With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, there are many players on the 2021-22 Ottawa Senators that will not be on the roster this year. There are questions specifically with regards to goaltending and the defense, which is what we’re looking at today. In order to have a decent sample size, we’ll grade the defensemen and goalies who have at least played 10 NHL games. Beginning with the netminders.
Filip Gustavsson: C
After a great 2020-21 season, Gustavsson had a tough year development wise. Because Matt Murray was hurt multiple times throughout the year, Gustavsson was up and down from the AHL more than he needed to be. It was hard to get in a routine, so an .892 save percentage is understandable. He has been solid in the AHL and is on the cusp of being an NHL goaltender. But perhaps the anointing of Gus as Ottawa’s clear future number 1 goaltender last year was a bit premature.
Matt Murray: B-
Despite all the negativity generally surrounding Murray, he still had a fairly good year. A .906 save percentage is right around league average and he played well when he was in the lineup. The issue is health, both mental and physical. He was injured on March 5th and couldn’t finish the season. In the end, he was only able to get into 20 games. It’s not his fault for his injury history and he likely deserves another chance next year, however whether the organization or the player are interested in that prospect is another matter altogether.
Anton Forsberg: A
Going into next year, the plan was to run a Murray-Gustavsson tandem. Forsberg was supposed to be the temporary backup, while Gustavsson would marinate in the AHL. He started off the year with an .883 save percentage in his first 6 games. In a year of scoring, he still managed to finish with a .917 save percentage in 46 games played. Forsberg’s best attribute is his consistency. He rarely has an off-night and that can be settling for a team filled with young players.
Lassi Thomson: B-
Thomson has made massive strides since the 2020-21 season. His game dipped in his loan to the Liiga and seemed like he was going to be a longshot to make the NHL. When he was called up in November, he was a bright spot in a dark time for the Senators. He was physically mature, could move pucks and was good in the offensive zone. The defensive awareness will need some time though, as he went 10 games in a row with at least a -1 rating.
Travis Hamonic: B
When Hamonic was acquired, there was confusion aplenty amongst the fanbase and media. Especially since he had another year left on his contract. Aside from his contract, Hamonic was a breath of fresh air. Not only is he physical, but he can make a first pass and rarely gets caught out of position. Hamonic and Michael Del Zotto were a solid pairing down the stretch. What brings him down slightly was the play in the last few games, paired with Thomas Chabot.
Michael Del Zotto: C+
What a year for Michael Del Zotto. His first 10 games forced him to be waived and play months down in Belleville. A move he was none too pleased with. However, with an injury to Thomas Chabot in March, he finished the season with 16 more games for the Sens. He recorded 7 points and a +5 in that stretch. He is an NHL defenseman but deserves a chance on another team.
Victor Mete: D
Quite a disappointing year for Mete, considering how well he played in 2020-21. Even with injuries on the blueline, he only managed to get into 37 games. In those games, he recorded 7 assists and was a -19. Just last week, Pierre Dorion let everyone know that Mete will not be qualified as a restricted free agent. He’s a great skater and is only 23 years old so he will probably get a deal somewhere else.
Josh Brown: D+
Notably the Sens most physical defenseman, he performed okay in his limited sample size. He managed to get into 46 games but was only playing 14 minutes a night. Ideally, he is a 7th or 8th defenseman. However, his offensive game was mostly invisible. He was traded at the deadline to the Boston Bruins. Like Mete, he should get an NHL contract but probably will not be an everyday NHL defenseman going forward.
Erik Brannstrom: B-
Erik Brannstroms’ performance has the fanbase divided on whether he should be a part of the backend going forward. Some say he’ll never survive a playoff series due to his smaller frame. The others will say he’s arguably the teams’ third best defenseman. I lie right in between, but I still want him on the team going forward. I think he should see power play minutes but should be slotted on the third pair. Though if an injury does occur in the top 4, I have no problem having Brannstrom in there for a couple games.
Thomas Chabot: A-
Chabot really impressed me this year. He always had the ability to play 27 minutes a night, but we’re seeing him become more efficient with his play. His giveaways have gone down and he’s making better defensive plays. While he still has a way to go, he has the tools to be a good two-way defenseman. Once again, his offensive game was solid and should be a 60-point defenseman for years to come.
Nikita Zaitsev: C-
Zaitsev has seen all the heavy-duty defensive matchups. He’s always killing penalties, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s good at it. His -177-shot differential was a team worst this year. He has two years left on his contract worth 4.5 million per season. Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic should be back next year on the right side of the defense core. So, it’s possible Zaitsev gets pushed out by Jacob Bernard-Docker or Lassi Thomson, but he could also end up being the 7th defenseman. For whatever reason, DJ Smith still trusts him to play big minutes.
Nick Holden: B+
What seemed like a decent pickup in the summer, Nick Holden has been a nice addition to the Sens defense corps. He isn’t going to impress offensively a whole lot but can be counted on in both ends of the ice. He struggled out of the gate, but so did the rest of the team. While the Sens waited for Jake Sanderson to take control of the second pair, Holden was the perfect stop gap.
Artem Zub: A-
While it’s great to have an offensive defenseman, every team needs players like Artem Zub. The fan favourite is physical but doesn’t get caved in on a nightly basis. Going forward, he’s going to play a key role in the top 4. However, the Sens will need to lock him up because he is an unrestricted free agent in 2023-24.
While the Sens were 22nd in goals against, much of that is because of Anton Forsberg’s great play. They were actually 6th highest in shots against meaning they’re far from a stout team defensively. Now focus shifts to Pierre Dorion and Co. to see how they address the ongoing need for a “top 6 forward and top 4 defenseman” heading into the summer.
-Damian Smith
Twitter: @Damian__Smith
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.