New Year’s Resolutions for the Sens

New Year’s resolutions can be a tedious task of making yourself feel badly (this is REALLY the year I’m going to cut out all junk food from my diet) or they can be the start of a path towards meaningful self-improvement. As the end of 2019 comes into sight, the Ottawa Senators are presented with a lot of important choices in 2020 that could affect the direction of the franchise for years to come.

Anthony Duclair’s breakout season, combined with his age and fit with the other core pieces, has made it an imperative that he be re-signed. Getting a deal done for the Duke should be at the top of Dorion’s list of resolutions.

Next comes some trickier choices: what to do with the veterans that are currently “blocking” the kids in Belleville? It seems unlikely a team would take Artem Anisimov off the Sens’ hands, but do Dorion and co. want to move on from the vets that are actually producing like Tyler Ennis or Chris Tierney? My resolution for Dorion is to aggressively shop everyone and if the return is right, to move on.

After the trade deadline has passed, I’d like DJ Smith and his coaching staff to resolve to giving the kids a real opportunity to show what they’ve got. Some of them will struggle, and the team might not win as many games as it could, but the franchise will be better off in the long run if Logan Brown is taking lumps while playing meaningful minutes and helping to anchor the power play.

Lastly, Pierre Dorion should resolve to make it a top priority to find Craig Anderson a home with a play-off team in the new year. The longest serving Ottawa Senator is at the end of his time in the nation’s capital and he deserves the chance to end his career on a high note.

So, what are your New Year’s Resolutions for the Ottawa Senators?