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Sporting News, The, Oct 6, 2003 by Kara Yorio

The Red Wings are the easy Stanley Cup pick for anyone who puts stock in the return of the Dominator behind a great defense. And who could argue with picking the Avalanche, now that it boasts such a potent offense? Another good pick would be the Devils, the defending Stanley Cup champions who have the best goaltender, Martin Brodeur, in the game.

But we're picking the Senators, an explosive team, to lift the Cup when the season is all said and done, just as their ancestors, the Ottawa Silver Seven, did four times and the original Ottawa Senators did seven times in pro hockey's early days.

"They're a young team, and they are only going to get better," Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer says.

We agree, for six reasons.

1. Versatility

Defensive? Trapping? Boring? Think again. The Senators don't always play the passive 1-2-2 anymore. General managers cite the Senators as an example of how playing good defense doesn't necessarily mean not scoring.

"They're a team that can play any style of hockey," says former Senators defenseman Lance Pitlick, who covered last season's playoff run for an Ottawa radio station. "A lot of teams thought they'd run them out of the building, and they showed they couldn't."

The Senators did put people to sleep in the past. But the team that concentrated on positioning and stifling the opposition has changed. Now it's a team with speed and skill, built on a foundation of positioning and defensive responsibility.

The Senators can trap with the Wild or run with the Avalanche. They can shut it down and hold on to a small lead or open it up and come from behind. Those rare qualifies allow them to have multiple plans of attack and a winning result.

2. Depth

It starts with Marian Hossa, who last season established himself as one of the premier power forwards in the game. Hossa arrived at this year's training camp, after a summer of working out, prepared to score and win battles without wearing down. Hossa isn't alone. Forwards Daniel Alfredsson, Radek Bonk, Martin Havlat (if he signs a contract), Tudd White, Bryan Smolinski, Petr Schastlivy and Jason Spezza also are ready. This young, deep group puts the Senators ahead of the pack.

When asked who was the favorite in the East in an NHL.com Q&A in September, Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said: "The most talented team is Ottawa. They spent some soft years building with young players and building through the draft. Now they're reaping the rewards from that. It's a young, talented team that can score and has good goaltending and good defense." Which brings us to ...

3. Defense

The Red Wings have a great group of defensemen, but the Senators have the deepest core. The Sens boast Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Chris Phillips, Karel Rachunek, Curtis Leschyshyn and young, punishing Anton Volchenkov, who made an impact as a rookie in the playoffs with Scott Stevens-like prowling and intimidation.

And with more playoff experience and the defensive support of his team, goaltender Patrick Lalime could step into the elite. Pitlick calls Lalime a "no-name" but says he shows the characteristics of the best and has the trust of his teammates.

"One thing I really like about Lalime is he's the first to admit he didn't play well," Pitlick says. "He always bounces back, and the team rallies around him."

Senators general manager John Muckler says Lalime's ability to rebound from a bad game is a key to his success and a sign of his character. But Muckler is counting on Lalime limiting the number of bad games and on the entire team becoming more consistent.

4. Spezza

He was at the center of a firestorm last season in Ottawa. When would coach Jacques Martin let loose this talented center's offensive skills, which could break open a game and make the difference on the power play? Spezza, then a rookie, made the most of his opportunities and, as can be expected, a few mistakes. But no misstep did anything to change what many believed: The kid can play.

He proved it in the playoffs, even though he sat more than he skated. In Game 5 of the conference finals, with the Senators facing elimination, Spezza had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Devils.

"He was probably one of the reasons we were able to go a seventh game," Muckler says. "He didn't fear the challenge, and it was a challenge. He acted like a veteran. He was probably the best player on the ice that game."

Spezza turned 20 on June 13 and spent the summer on a healthier diet, losing about 10 pounds and getting into better shape. He is ready, and the Senators seem ready to let him help.

"Jason is a person who can be a special hockey player," Muckler says. "He made great strides last season. He did everything we asked of him.... We're hoping he's ready to do that at the NHL level on a consistent basis. Do we expect him to be one of the leaders on this team and take us to the promised land? No, but we expect him to be a part of this hockey club."

5. Experience

Ottawa came so close to the finals last season that it hurt, but the playoff series against the Islanders, Flyers and Devils taught the Senators a lot. They learned about themselves and about playoff hockey and, most important, about opportunity and the need to pounce on it.