Will Ottawa make the playoffs?

[King Karl]

Three weeks ago I feel like this would've been a completely ludicrous suggestion, but given their recent acquisitions and what appears to be a tectonic shift in their approach to building the team - could Ottawa actually make the playoffs?

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[A1LeafNation]

I say they are better than Boston now.

 

[Dominance]

Yes - and for the next 10 years, too. The team already looks damn good expecting even reasonable improvements from their young players.

 

[Ncit3]

They'll make the playoffs. If they win a round is another thing. They're still super young and need some more defensive help. But they're pretty good now.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

I'm not so sure they haven't passed Toronto...

 

[NyQuil]

I say close but no cigar.

Depends on if we get a D today, and who it is.

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

You have Tampa, Florida and Toronto pretty lock for the playoffs. But if Sens play well against divisional teams, that will make things a lot closer. They will fight for a wildcard spot, imo. It's a tough division though, so it will be hard to crack that top 3

 

[KevinRedkey]

Voted yes but if they get a top 4 Dman I'd say hell yes.

 

[Buzzman17]

I'm not so sure they haven't passed Toronto...

That would be impressive as Leafs finished 4th overall in league last year and one point from 3rd lol

 

[King Karl]

I say close but no cigar.

Depends on if we get a D today, and who it is.

That's my thinking as well, but it also may be a case of not wanting to build up expectations just to get let down again.

 

[NyQuil]

That's my thinking as well, but it also may be a case of not wanting to build up expectations just to get let down again.

Well, also the fact that we still have the same group of young guys at the core of the team who finished ~30 points out of the playoffs.

You hope for improvement but that would be pretty dramatic.

Giroux said as much in his interview - not expecting to compete for the Cup this year but hoping to build for next year at the minimum.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

They're starting to look real good, love the core. Thinking they're one year out but it wouldn't surprise me if they made it.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

Obviously. Better poll would be will they win the cup?

Jk I’m drunk

 

[1specter]

If there was a bubble team option I'd pick that. I think they're close, but still maybe a year away. Buffalo and Detroit are also getting better, Tampa Florida and Toronto are top teams and although Boston is regressing you can't count them out especially with Krejci coming back.

 

[Hale The Villain]

If they add a top 4 D, absolutely.

Arguably the best top 9 in the league, would have an above-average D with an addition like Chychrun/Weegar, and Talbot/Forsberg should be able to provide decent goaltending at the very least.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Not with that D. One more big move and I'd say we're close to a playoff spot.

 

[Korpse]

Still have to see what they do to address the D but they should be in the mix. Lot's of new faces, not only Debrincat, Giroux and Talbot but Pinto missed almost all of last season and Sanderson should play an important role. Will have to see how everyone fits. If they come out of the gates hot, I think they will be difficult to stop.

 

[EichHart]

Lookin good sens

 

[TheDoldrums]

The defense of forwards matters too. Your top forwards need to be good defensively as well or you're just Winnipeg. Ottawas guys haven't shown that yet, though they're still mostly young.

 

[Team Cozens]

I say they are better than Boston now.

and Washington and possibly the Leafs if the new goaltending plays as expected.

 

[Sweetpotato]

I wouldn't bet against them. I see them leaping over Boston this year and sneaking in but I've always felt the same about Buffalo so who knows.

 

[BCNate]

I said no for now. They have made some excellent moves so far, and other teams are yet to. Too much off season left to go. They are much better, and should make a pretty big push. Assuming the playoff cut line is back in the mid 90's, the Sens still need to make up 20 points to get there.

 

[Holymakinaw]

They have improved up front, to be sure. But I say no.

The D-corps is still not great and neither are the Goalies.

 

[swiftwin]

That would be impressive as Leafs finished 4th overall in league last year and one point from 3rd lol

I mean, Toronto nearly missed the playoffs just 2 seasons ago.

 

[Colezuki]

Atlantic is tough to predict but if you were to pick 4 I'd be picking today between TB, FLA, TOR, BOS and Ottawa, maybe Detroit depending on how this day finishes.

TB, FLA and TOR all got slightly worse
Bos may be staying the same with Krejci coming back
Det and Ott are looking to take a step forward
Buffalo is brimming with talent that it may boil over soon

MTL is likely to have another tough year while waiting for Berg's brutal contracts to expire (Byron, Drouin, and Dadonov along with Allen).

Edit also think today cements MTL as a bottom 5 team next year, too much talent in the division on the other teams