HOCKEY'S HERE: OTTAWA SENATORS

It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it's hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field offers looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The Ottawa Senators.

Last season: 113 points, 1st in Northeast Division; lost to Buffalo in second round
Coach: Bryan Murray (2nd season with team)
Young gun: Patrick Eaves
Store this name away: Nick Foligno
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Joe Corvo, Martin Gerber
Blogs (including but not limited to): Battle of Ontario, Hockey Country, Ottawa Sports Blog, Hockey Will Tear Us Apart, The Universal Cynic
Pop culture moment: Hey, they've only been around since '92. Give them time.

Last year probably did wonders for moving Sens fans from the Denial to the Anger stage; a couple weeks ago, yours truly got an e-mail from a Sens blogger saying (paraphrasing here), "I think you'll see Sens fans being a lot more honest about their team."

Amen to that. Sens management finally clued in that their Precious Team, as constituted, needed a shake-up, so eight players are gone from last season. (Tyler Arnason, we hardly knew ye!) The fans realize that regular-season accomplishments are tantamount to winning a Perfect Attendance award in school. Or as Hockey Country puts it: "People in this city don’t give two s---- about regular seasons ... where the Sens finish is irrelevant as long as it’s in the top eight of the conference." That's certainly true, and yes, it would be uncool to point out the Senators probably didn't finish in the same place in all four of the seasons the Leafs wiped them out in the playoffs. Besides, I'm too tired to go looking for that info.

Ottawa might stumble in the early going, but on paper, this looks like a very good team. Martin Gerber and a maturing Ray Emery in goal looks to be as good a tandem as last season with the Dominator and a rookie Emery. There's no replacing Zdeno Chara, but the blueline depth hasn't dropped off. Tom Preissing, acquired in the 3-way deal that sent Martin Havlat to Chicago, is probably an upgrade over Brian Pothier.

As for the forwards, they're loaded, especially if Eaves has a breakout season. Ottawa's never had anyone who was both blessed with good, quick hands and the temperament to stand in front of the net and take the hacks and whacks without taking a retaliatory penalty. If Eaves can be that guy, especially on power plays, that gives Ottawa another dimension offensively.

Suffice to say, Sens fans are going to get plenty of opportunity to try and curb their enthusiasm about regular-season feats as they wait to see if their team will deliver in the post-season for a change. Along with Calgary, they have the most legitimate Stanley Cup hopes out of all the Canadian teams, but where have we heard that before?

Also in Northeast Division: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs
Related: We Are Leafs Fans, See Us Ignore (Sept. 21), The Sens Are Done Tonight and The Mayor's None Too Bright (May 13) The Ottawa Senators And Homer Simpson (May 9), Cole Whiners (Apr. 30)

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca