Sterling Predictions, Pt.3: Scoring and Winning
The Biggest One of All
It was a couple of weeks ago now, but you may remember that we kicked off our Sterling Predictions series by asking the staff how the new guys would fare, and whether the special teams would improve. With the benefit of a completed training camp, and the knowledge that there were no major injuries to impact our predictions, today we tackle the big questions.
Everything that Steve Staios did in the off-season was with the goal of making the play-offs this year. After the dust settles, do the Ottawa Senators qualify for the post-season? What will their record be? And, bonus question, who will lead the team in scoring?
Shaan: This team is due for some overtime losses – and I mean that in a good way. Even with some disappointing performances sprinkled in throughout the season, Ullmark will get the Sens into extra time a lot more often. With a record of 42-26-14, the Sens will claim WC1 with a 98-point season. Brady Tkachuk will lead the way with 87 points, but I'll throw in a hot take and say Shane Pinto finishes 3rd behind him and Stützle.
Trevor: I feel like I've predicted that the Sens would make the playoffs for a few seasons now and I always look back with the benefit of hindsight thinking "how could I have said that?" Although I have hope and optimism going into the season, it's still an uphill battle to make it in and they'll need good goaltending, luck, and health. I'm going to reverse-jinx it and say they miss the playoffs by a little bit and end up with a 40-34-8 record and 88 points. Tim Stützle will lead the team in points with 86.
Owen: They'll need the stars to line up perfectly and by that I mean goaltending, health, and dumb luck. Assuming that happens I could pipe dream a record of 45-29-8 for a postseason berth. Let's get real gone and say Claude Giroux winds back the clock and leads the team with 84 points.
Beata: Yes, they will make the playoffs. I say this every year and I'm always wrong but nevertheless I will persist until it happens. This year's reasoning is that they're due for some luck after several seasons where it felt like everything went wrong. The new coach bump, fewer injuries than before, and better goaltending will get them a wildcard spot. Their record will be 43-29-10 and Stützle will lead the team in scoring, with a new career high of 95 points.
Ross: Like many of us, I'm not completely sold on this Sens roster assembled over the summer. I'm saying they finish 38-36-8, with 84 points being an improvement on last year but still leaving them 6th in the NHL's toughest division. Optimistically, I'm going to say the lead scorer is Tim Stützle with 101 points, becoming the first Sens player to cross the 100-point barrier since Dany Heatley in 06-07.
Ary: I'm not sure if it'll be enough to get them in, but I'll go with 42-28-12 for 96 points. You can flip a coin to decide if that's enough or not. Stützle leads the team in scoring with 85 points.
nkb: It's not an original thought, but from my perspective not much has changed in the Sens' outlook since Staios acquired Ullmark; everything else was window-dressing to some degree. It feels reductive to say it's going to all come down to the goaltending, but the gap is absolutely massive between the goalie play the Sens received last year vs. what Ullmark could deliver this year. I'm going to wager that Ullmark stays healthy and starts approximately 55 games. The Sens give up significantly fewer goals as a result, and they qualify for the post-season with a 45-28-9 record as the first wild card. Stützle leads the way with 95 points.
