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Ottawa Senators season going exactly according to plan

By Naftali Clinton

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 2: DJ Smith"nHead Coach of the Ottawa Senators directs his team in a break against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 2: DJ Smith"nHead Coach of the Ottawa Senators directs his team in a break against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Ottawa Senators have been in a rebuild for a few years now and are doing a very good job stockpiling picks and prospects for a very bright future in Ottawa.

The consensus plan for this year among Ottawa Senators fans was the unofficial “tank”. To lose games and finish at the bottom of the league for a top pick in the draft. But a major problem in recent years for the Senators was that fans weren’t believing in the team because it seems their always trading big name stars away.

However, this year has changed all of that, thanks to the long-term extensions in place for young stars Thomas Chabot (eight years) and Colin White (six years). With a new head coach behind the bench in D.J. Smith, there is hope in Ottawa these days finally.

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While Sens fans still have disdain for owner Eugene Melnyk, there is belief that he is finally spending to make this team a contender.

The Senators have a great system in place for this year, and it is already paying off dividends not even halfway through the season. They sit at 26th place in the league with a record of 16-18-4, which is a lot better than even optimists put them before the season began.

A player that was put into the Dzingel last year as a spare part in Anthony Duclair is having an incredible season by all standards, with 21 goals and 30 points in 38 games. Also, long-time Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau is having a career year with 18 goals, one away from his personal best.

While the Sens will not be making the playoffs this year, it’s a job well done by Senators management. They are staying at the bottom of the league, where they want to be right now, but at the same time their playing competitive hockey night in night out.

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They stay in the game no matter what, they just keep coming. My bold prediction is D.J. Smith will coach the Senators to a Stanley Cup victory sometime in the next five years.

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