2021-22 Maple Leafs Opponent Preview: Ottawa Senators

Welcome back to my Toronto Maple Leafs Opponent Preview series. In this series, I will be previewing each team in the Atlantic Division and breaking down how they match up against the Maple Leafs. The purpose of this series is to refresh people on how teams in the Atlantic Division are built for the 2021-22 season, especially considering the Maple Leafs haven’t played most of these teams since 2019-20.

He got a brief look in the AHL with Belleville at the end of the season, and registered three points in four games. He’s set to start this season with Belleville, and could see a call-up, barring any injuries up front.

Lassi Thomson

Thomson began last season playing on Ilves as Jarventie’s teammate, but he couldn’t get the ball rolling offensively with only two assists in 18 games. He spent the second half of the season with the Belleville Senators and put up 13 points in 35 games. Like Jarventie, Thomson will start in the AHL. But if there are any injuries to the defensive corps, he could see himself as the first man up.

Filip Gustavsson

Originally a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Gustavsson was traded to the Senators in 2018 and has been in their system ever since.

Gustavsson impressed over a nine-game sample size with a record of 5-1-2 along with a goals against average (GAA) of 2.16 and a save percentage of .933. To see him start in the AHL is mildly confusing, and I would bet he gets another chance at the NHL level sooner rather than later.

Message From Enemy Lines

“As it stands, the Maple Leafs outmatch the Senators in nearly every way. Ottawa just doesn’t have the forwards to neutralize the trio of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner, especially with Brady Tkachuk still sitting out. Thomas Chabot gives Ottawa some life on defense, and Michael Del Zotto and Nick Holden will try and fix the defensive issues they faced last season, but it still doesn’t have a top shutdown guy to contain the Leafs’ high-octane offense. If Matt Murray can rebound, they’ll have the advantage in goal, but that’s a big if based on the way his career has gone lately. And yet, the Senators beat the Maple Leafs four times out of 10 matchups in 2020-21. This is a team that defies expectations, so despite the obvious mismatch, Ottawa still can’t be taken lightly.”

-Dayton Reimer, The Hockey Writers

Schedule

Oct. 14 @ Ottawa
Oct. 16 vs Ottawa
Jan. 1 vs Ottawa
Apr. 16 @ Ottawa

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2021-22 Season Prediction: Sixth in Atlantic

While the Senators won’t be a playoff contender this season, I think they’ll finish higher than the Red Wings and the Sabres. And as previously stated, their resilience will make them tough customers, even for contending teams.

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Once Tkachuk signs and they have all of their young forwards intact, I think sixth is a fair spot to put the Senators for this season. But once their recent draft picks develop and their young core really starts to take its form, they have the potential to make some noise in the Atlantic.