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It’s Ottawa Senators day on PHT

Craig Anderson

Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) takes a timeout during the second period in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Ottawa Senators Friday, May 24, 2013 in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 6-2. The Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference finals. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

Throughout the month of August, PHT will be dedicating a day to all 30 NHL clubs. Today’s team? The Ottawa Senators.

Last season ended on a low note for the Senators getting humbled by the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. After barnstorming Montreal in the first-round, fans in Ottawa had high hopes for a deep run. Once the offseason began, things got a bit more exciting for some of the wrong reasons.

Offseason recap

Ottawa fans were left stunned when captain Daniel Alfredsson decided to return for another season but not for the team he’d been playing since the mid-90s for. Alfie signed with Detroit and spurred GM Bryan Murray to pull off a stunning deal with Anaheim to acquire Bobby Ryan. While they gave up a lot of their own high-level youth (Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen) to get him, Ryan gives them a four-time 30-goal scorer, something Alfredsson hadn’t been since 2007-08.

Acquiring Ryan wasn’t their only move. Clarke MacArthur joined the fold after leaving Toronto and Joe Corvo returned to town to replace Sergei Gonchar who was dealt to Dallas. Add that extra offense to a team that figures to have a healthy defensive corps (and team all around) and underrated goalie Craig Anderson and you’ve got a team many believe will challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Talk is cheap but after being this summer’s “It” team, expectations are higher than ever in Ottawa.

Related:

Introducing: PHT’s ‘Team of the Day’ summer series

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