Five Thoughts for a Friday: Preseason Overreactions 2025 Edition

The Ottawa Senators have played exactly four preseason games (excluding neutral site games) and you know what that means: it's time to interpret every single statistical anomaly as irrefutable evidence of the preposterous claims I submit in the subsequent paragraphs.

We Don't Have to Worry about Goaltending Anymore

Well, thank goodness, that's over with! It has been a hot minute since we got to enjoy prime Craig Anderson in Ottawa and the years since stunk to say the least. Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg through 90 and 60 minutes of preseason hockey respectively have put up all situation save percentages of 93.4 and 95, and instead of splitting the atom to look at how they fared at five-on-five versus special teams (never mind discussing the dangers of overweighting small sample sizes) I will anoint this the best tandem in the NHL heading into the regular season. I realize that eight other goalies in the division (including Joonas Korpisalo) have put up equal or better numbers but none of those seem sustainable because Go Sens Go.

The Senators Will Score 65 or More Powerplay Goals

Considering this team only scored 51 goals with the advantage last season, and with a pretty similar roster, this seems like another absurd claim but hear me out: Josh Norris one-timer from his off circle. So far the Sens have averaged over 110 shots attempts per 60 on the powerplay and shot 17.24% in the preseason. I submit that they simply keep doing exactly that and wait for the money to rain down from the sky.

The Senators Have an Entirely Sustainable Formula for Penalty Kill Success

Forget the fact that the Senators have given up the fifth most expected goals per 60 on the penalty kill (9.07) this preseason and remember what I said in the first paragraph. When your goalies stop more than 96% of the shots they face shorthanded, it really doesn't matter how many attempts you concede. Just go out there and have a good time, you crazy kids.

Jake Sanderson Is Going to Win the Norris

Or at least win the Senators' internal version thereof. Sanderson has handily led the team in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 (1.17 (I should mention here that all stats come courtesy of naturalstattrick) and expected goals percentage (54.41 (and all this with defensive deployment I should note)) and considering the Sens will invariably win the president's trophy this season, that makes Sanderson the best defender in the league. I don't make the rules, folks.

Ridly Greig Will Lead the Sens in Scoring and Penalties

2.62 goals per 60, 13.08 shots per 60, 44.48 PIM per 60--sorry Brady, this team belongs to Greig now. Captain Tkachuk had a great run as the Senators' leader both in terms of offence and physical play but it looks like the new honey badger in town has taken the throne this preseason. Greig has also done an impressive job of pissing off opponents to the tune of 10.47 penalties drawn per 60 (obviously good enough to lead the team). Just hand over the 'C' already Brady, you had your turn.

I shouldn't have to but I will take a moment here to explicitly clarify that I'm just messing around here. I mostly just want to convey the feeling of unbridled excitement I feel regarding this forthcoming season of Ottawa Senators hockey and I sincerely hope that our readers share this zeal. Have a great weekend, everyone!