The second biggest name on the free agent market has gone with Claude Giroux officially signing with the Ottawa Senators. Clearly, this move shows that the Senators are sick and tired of losing and are coming with a fury for a playoff spot this year.
It has been 5 years since Chris Kunitz scored that double-OT-Game 7-Conference-winning goal to break all Senators fans’ hearts back in 2018. Hard to believe that moment was only 5 years ago, considering how bad the Senators have been since. It is even crazier to think that an Ottawa Senators roster in the past decade was only one-goal away from a Stanley Cup Finals berth.
How different the Senators’ recent fortune could have been if Kunitz never scored that goal.
Alas, that playoff run should no longer matter to the nostalgic Senators fans. This offseason has, at long last, provided a light in the dark tunnel of playoff-less misery for the Senators. Now, they have a great chance of righting the mistakes of previous seasons and finally play meaningful hockey in April again.
Signing Claude Giroux to a 3-year, $19.5M contract is massive win for this team. Not only does the former Flyers’ captain bring a guarantee of experience and 65-75pts each season, but he also brings legitimacy to the Senators and their young core. If this was last season, there would be no chance Claude Giroux would be spending the last few years left of his career with the Senators. A player of his caliber would never choose to waste their time on a rebuilder, especially when he is in pursuit of his first Stanley Cup ring.
Yet, he clearly believes the Senators have a chance to win now. And so should everyone else.
With the additions of Giroux, 40-goal scorer Alex Debrincat from the Blackhawks, and Cam Talbot from the Wild, this team now consists of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, Alex Formenton, Thomas Chabot, Travis Hamonic, Erik Brannstrom, Alex Debrincat, Cam Talbot, and Claude Giroux. Yeah, this is a playoff core.
I can’t see Ottawa missing out on the playoffs for a sixth-straight year with the roster they have now. Now, the East really is a top heavy “beast” to contend with, but one of those contenders will fall out next year. Whether it is the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, or the Boston Bruins (who ais my pick to fall out of playoff contention), one of these teams should be replaced by this young and hungry Ottawa core.
It is a great time to be an Ottawa fan. Yet, the Senators and their fans should not get overconfident about their playoff hopes as the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets are coming for the same spot too.
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