2008–09 Ottawa Senators season
![]() | This article documents a current Ottawa Senators Season. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports, scores, or statistics may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
2008–09 Ottawa Senators | |
---|---|
Division | 4th Northeast |
Conference | 9th Eastern |
2008–09 record | 2-2-1 |
Home record | 1-2-1 |
Road record | 1-0-0 |
Goals for | 16 |
Goals against | 15 |
Team information | |
General manager | Bryan Murray |
Coach | Craig Hartsburg |
Captain | Daniel Alfredsson |
Alternate captains | Dany Heatley Chris Phillips |
Arena | Scotiabank Place |
Average attendance | Average: 19,893 Capacity: 103.4% Total: 59,679 |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Dany Heatley (4) |
Assists | Filip Kuba (7) |
Points | Filip Kuba (7) Jason Spezza (7) |
Penalty minutes | Dany Heatley (8) |
Plus/minus | Shean Donovan (+3) Dean McAmmond (+3) |
Wins | Alex Auld (1) Martin Gerber (1) |
Goals against average | Alex Auld (1.00) |
The 2008–09 Ottawa Senators season will be the 16th season of the franchise. The Senators regular season started in Europe. The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins will played each other twice in Stockholm, Sweden on October 4 and October 5[1] , with the Senators losing in overtime and a win, respectively.Template:NHLSeasonTOC
Off-season
On June 5, it was reported that Wade Redden would not sign a $3.5 million per year contract with the Senators. He instead became an Unrestricted Free Agent on July 1 and signed a six-year, $39M contract with the New York Rangers.[2] On Friday, June 13, 2008, the Senators named Craig Hartsburg, coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the new head coach after interviewing Bob Hartley and Peter DeBoer as candidates. Hartsburg signed a three-year agreement with the Senators.[3]
On June 20, the day of the NHL Entry Draft, the Senators placed Ray Emery on waivers and re-signed Chris Kelly to a 4-year, $8.5-million contract.[4] At the draft, the Senators selected Erik Karlsson with their first-round pick (15th overall) and proceeded to select Patrick Wiercioch (42 overall), Zack Smith (79 overall), Andre Petersson (109 overall), Derek Grant (119 overall), Mark Borowiecki (139 overall), and Emil Sandin (199 overall).
On July 1, the Ottawa Senators announced that they have signed goaltender Alex Auld to a two-year contract worth $1 million per season. Auld is expected to serve as a backup to Martin Gerber for the '08-'09 season.
On July 2, the Ottawa Senators announced that they have re-signed forward Shean Donovan to a two-year contract at $625,000 per season. The Sens also announced that they have signed forward Jarkko Ruutu to a 3-year contract worth $1.3 million per season.
On July 5, the Ottawa Senators announced that Antoine Vermette had elected to take the club to salary arbitration. The Senators and Vermette would agree to a two-year deal on July 31.
On July 8, the Senators announced that they had signed defenceman Jason Smith to a two-year, $5.2M contract.[5]
On July 16, the Senators announced that they will host the Detroit Red Wings in their official home-opener on October 11th.
On July 17, the Ottawa Senators and CHUM Radio announced that the club and The Team 1200 have signed a multi-year extension to their agreement to broadcast Senators' games. The original 10-year contract expired at the end of the '07-'08 season.
On July 31, the Ottawa Senators and Antoine Vermette avoided going to arbitration by agreeing to terms on a new 2-year contract worth $5.525-million(US). Vermette will make $2.525-million for the '08-'09 season, and $3-million in the '09-'10 season.
On August 29, in a deal similar to the Alexei Yashin trade in 2001, former first round pick Andrej Meszaros was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Filip Kuba, Alexandre R. Picard, and a first round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (obtained by Tampa Bay in an earlier deal with the San Jose Sharks).[6] Meszaros was a restricted free agent demanding $1 million more per season than the Senators were willing to pay. After Tampa threatened to offer Meszaros an offer sheet with picks as compensation on August 28, the Senators decided to make a deal with Tampa.[7] Meszaros signed a six year, $24 million dollar contract on August 30 with the Lightning.[6]
On September 2, the Senators made a deal with the Vancouver Canucks, and traded their defenseman Lawrence Nycholat for a center/right wing Ryan Shannon. On the same day, they signed another former-Canucks player, Brad Isbister, who was a unrestricted free agent. On September 27, a veteran defenseman Luke Richardson re-signed a 1 year, two-way with the Ottawa Senators for a second season.
Pre-season
On October 2, the Senators played their first-ever game in Europe, a pre-season exhibition game in Gothenburg, Sweden against the Frolunda HC team[1] which Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson played for before joining the NHL and during the lockout.
Date | Time | Opponent | Location | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 20 | 7:00pm | New York Rangers | Scotiabank Place | W, 3-2 |
September 22 | 7:00pm | New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden | L, 2-1 |
September 24 | 7:00pm | Philadelphia Flyers | Scotiabank Place | W, 3-1 |
September 26 | 7:30pm | Montreal Canadiens | Bell Centre | L, 5-0 |
September 27 | 7:00pm | Montreal Canadiens | Scotiabank Place | W, 3-1 |
October 2 | 1:00pm | Frolunda Indians | Scandinavium Arena | W, 4-1 |
The Senators finished the 2008 pre-season with a record of 4-2-0-0.
Regular season
Divisional standings
GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | z – Boston Bruins | 82 | 53 | 19 | 10 | 274 | 196 | 116 |
2 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 249 | 247 | 93 |
3 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 250 | 234 | 91 |
4 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 217 | 237 | 83 |
5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 250 | 293 | 81 |
Conference standings
R | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | z – Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 53 | 19 | 10 | 274 | 196 | 116 | ||
2 | y – Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 50 | 24 | 8 | 272 | 245 | 108 | ||
3 | y – New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 51 | 27 | 4 | 244 | 209 | 106 | ||
4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 45 | 28 | 9 | 264 | 239 | 99 | ||
5 | Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 264 | 238 | 99 | ||
6 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 239 | 226 | 97 | ||
7 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 210 | 218 | 95 | ||
8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 249 | 247 | 93 | ||
8.5 | |||||||||||
9 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 234 | 231 | 93 | ||
10 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 250 | 234 | 91 | ||
11 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 217 | 237 | 83 | ||
12 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 250 | 293 | 81 | ||
13 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 35 | 41 | 6 | 257 | 280 | 76 | ||
14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 210 | 279 | 66 | ||
15 | New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 201 | 279 | 61 |
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division
Game log
2008–09 Game Log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule |
Playoffs
The Senators will attempt to make the playoffs for the 12th straight season. Prior to the season, a majority of predictions by the media placed the Senators to finish in the playoffs in fourth or lower.[8][9] Some placed the team to miss the playoffs.
Player stats
Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Spezza | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 2 |
Filip Kuba | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Dany Heatley | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -2 | 8 |
Daniel Alfredsson | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 0 |
Nick Foligno | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 2 |
Shean Donovan | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Jarkko Ruutu | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Alexandre Picard | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
Anton Volchenkov | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
Chris Kelly | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
Antoine Vermette | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
Dean McAmmond | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Brian Lee | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Jesse Winchester | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
Chris Phillips | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 6 |
Christoph Schubert | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Mike Fisher | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
Jason Smith | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chris Neil | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 6 |
Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
Player | GP | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alex Auld | 1 | 59:49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .968 | 1.00 |
Martin Gerber | 4 | 242:33 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | .896 | 3.46 |
Awards and records
Records
Milestones
Regular Season | |||||||||
Player | Milestone | Reached | |||||||
Chris Phillips | 700th NHL Game | October 4, 2008 | |||||||
Filip Kuba Alexandre R. Picard Jarkko Ruutu Jason Smith |
First Game with Ottawa | October 4, 2008 | |||||||
Filip Kuba | First Assist with Ottawa First Point w/ Ottawa |
October 4, 2008 | |||||||
Alex Auld | First Game with Ottawa First Start with Ottawa First Win with Ottawa |
October 5, 2008 | |||||||
Alexandre R. Picard | First Goal with Ottawa First Point with Ottawa |
October 11, 2008 | |||||||
Daniel Alfredsson | 850th career point | October 17, 2008 | |||||||
Jason Spezza | 350th career point | October 17, 2008 | |||||||
Chris Kelly | 100th career point | October 18, 2008 |
Transactions
- re-signed Jesse Winchester
- signed Peter Regin to entry-level contract
- placed Ray Emery on waivers
- re-signed Chris Kelly
- signed Alex Auld to two-year contract
- re-signed Shean Donovan
- signed Jarkko Ruutu
- re-signed Greg Mauldin to a one-year, two-way contract.
- signed Jason Smith
- signed Mitchell O'Keefe to a one-year, entry-level contract.
- signed Brendan Bell to a one-year, two-way contract.
- re-signed Josh Hennessy to a two-year, two-way contract.
- re-signed Jeff Glass to a one-year, two-way contract.
- re-signed Antoine Vermette to a two-year contract.
- re-signed Geoff Waugh to a one-year, two-way contract.
- signed Zack Smith to an entry-level contract.
- signed Brad Isbister to a one-year, two-way contract.
- re-signed Luke Richardson to a one-year, two-way contract.
Trades
June 20, 2008 |
To Ottawa Senators 15th overall pick in 2008 |
To Nashville Predators 17th overall pick in 2008 Third round pick in 2009 |
June 25, 2008 |
To Ottawa Senators Fifth round pick in 2009 |
To Phoenix Coyotes Brian McGrattan |
August 29, 2008 |
To Ottawa Senators First round pick in 2009 Filip Kuba Alexandre Picard |
To Tampa Bay Lightning Andrej Meszaros |
September 2, 2008 |
To Ottawa Senators Ryan Shannon |
To Vancouver Canucks Lawrence Nycholat |
Free agent acquisitions
|
Players lost to free agency
Player | New team |
Mike Commodore | Columbus Blue Jackets |
Wade Redden | New York Rangers |
Cory Stillman | Florida Panthers |
Randy Robitaille | HC Lugano |
Claimed from Waivers
|
Draft picks
Ottawa's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa • Ontario.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 | Erik Karlsson | Defence | Sweden | Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.) |
2 | 42 | Patrick Wiercioch | Defence | Canada | Omaha (USHL) |
3 | 79 | Zack Smith | Center | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
4 | 109 | Andre Petersson | Forward | Sweden | HV-71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.) |
4 | 119 | Derek Grant | Center | Canada | Langley Chiefs (BCHL) |
5 | 139 | Mark Borowiecki | Defence | Canada | Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL) |
7 | 199 | Emil Sandin | Forward | Sweden | Brynas Jr. (Sweden Jr.) |
Roster
Updated 2 September 2024[14][15]
Farm teams
The Senators continued their affiliation with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League. On August 14, 2008, the Senators announced that they had signed an affiliation agreement with the Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League.[16] In previous years, Elmira had accepted players from Binghamton on a player-by-player basis. The new agreement formalized the arrangement of Elmira as the primary affiliate of Binghamton and the secondary affiliate of Ottawa.[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Four NHL teams to open the 2008-09 regular season in Europe Oct. 4-5". NHL.com. January 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Garrioch, Bruce. "Redden to go on market". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "HARTSBURG INTRODUCED AS NEW HEAD COACH IN OTTAWA". TSN.ca. 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Kelly Staying with Senators". 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Senators sign free agent defenceman Smith". TSN.ca. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ a b "Mes Wanted to Stay". Slam Sports. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ "Bolting to Sunshine State?". Slam Sports. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ Buccigross, John (October 7, 2008). "Familiar ring to Eastern Conference outlook". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Moore, Mark. "Eastern Conference Picks". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "Senators sign Jason Smith". SLAM! Sports. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Bulletin: Senators Sign Defenceman Brendan Bell To A One-year Contract". Ottawa Senators. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Bulletin: Senators Sign Goaltender Mitchell O'Keefe To A One-year Contract". Ottawa Senators. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Isbister Gets Shot With Sens". Slam Sports. 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Ottawa Senators Roster". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ "Ottawa Senators Hockey Transactions". tsn.ca. The Sports Network. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Bulletin: Senators Reach Affiliation Agreement with Elmira". Ottawa Senators.