Will Daniel Alfredsson and Erik karlsson return? Off Season Decisions for the Ottawa Senators

Originally Posted on The Hockey Writers

Heading into next season, expectations will be far greater than at this time last year for the Ottawa Senators.

A return to the post season and life beyond the first round is where the bar will be set.

But just how high will that measurement of expectation go? After all, it was only last year the Senators were a lottery pick and most experts expected them to finish lower than that for this season!

With plenty of talented young prospects on the rise, there will be difficult decisions to be made in Ottawa from the draft, through free agency right up to training camp.

The biggest questions surrounding the Ottawa Senators this summer will be the future of their Captain Daniel Alfredsson, and resigning RFA Erik Karlsson. Alfie has one year remaining on his contract that will pay him $1 million but he is 39 years old and may decide to retire. While he is still playing at a All-Star level, he suffered two concussions this season, and had back surgery the previous off season. It is a real possibility that he chooses his health and family over playing the final year of his contract.

2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Round One Preview: New York Rangers VS Ottawa Senators

Originally posted at: The Hockey Writers

The First place New York Rangers will hold home ice advantage in a best of seven series against the eighth placed Ottawa Senators in round one of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Will this be a quick series sweep as the standings would indicate, or is there potential for a first round upset?

The Ottawa Senators Cinderella Season

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers
Every year in the playoffs there are upsets in the first round as a lower seeded team defeats a higher seeded team. On occasion, the upsetting team is able to carry that momentum beyond a single round and become a Cinderella team, going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. And although rather rare, there have been times when such a team has been able to beat the odds to become the Stanley Cup Champions. The Ottawa Senators are hoping for such a magical run this year.

Erik Karlsson: The Next Elite Defenseman

Originally Posted at: The Hockey Writers

When the Ottawa Senators drafted Erik Karlsson 15^th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft they had high hopes for him as all first round picks are full of promise and potential. In less than four years those hopes are not only realized, but perhaps far exceeded!

Inside The NHL All-Star Media Event

Originally posted at: The Hockey Writers
Have you ever wondered what it is like behind the scenes in the NHL? What would it be like to meet and interview the biggest stars in the NHL? I recently had the chance to find out as I had access to the NHL All-Star media event at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa during the All-Star weekend. Here is an account of my experiences with the biggest names in the NHL.

Ottawa Senators Mid-Season Report Card

Originally posted at: The Hockey Writers
As the 2011-2012 season began, most expected it to be a long arduous season of rebuilding for the Ottawa Senators. Now at the mid-point of the season the Sens find themselves surprisingly in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points.

Ottawa Senator Players Dominating All-Star Voting

This years NHL All-Star game will be held in Ottawa Canada. Ottawa fans are stuffing the ballot box to see their beloved Sens represent the home town in the game.