Struggling Sens: Razor's Edge

If someone were to tell you back in early November, that the Sens would be struggling this badly late in the season, you would think this someone was an idiot. That Sens team through the first 25-30 games, were unstoppable. Experts across the NHL were comparing them to the legendary Montreal Canadiens of the mid-1970s. There was already talk that this Sens team was not feeling any ill effects of their Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Anaheim Ducks last season. It was clear at that point, that they were going to head back to the Finals and take what was theirs.

Oh, how things change ever so quickly.

Fast forward to the beginning of March, the Sens are no longer sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. No longer do they look like the Goliath of the Eastern conference, but now just an average team struggling to find their path. Goaltending has been abysmal, their top 3 players have all struggled with injuries and just recently, their head coach was fired. It really couldn't get worse in Sens Nation right now.

But it will, since I just can't see this Senators team make another run to the Finals this season. Even though they will make the postseason, they just have not played with the character and drive they displayed for the first quarter of the season. I blame this a lot on Ray Emery, who has been the 'cancer' on this team. We all know his history and the distractions he has caused for the Senators. But, you have to think, the Senators organization has to know when to say "enough is enough". If I were Sens owner, Eugene Melnyk, I would be losing my cool right about now with Emery. After signing him to a large contract after last season, expectations were high for 'Razor'. But he struggled with off season wrist surgery and battling with Martin Gerber for the #1 position. Throw in all his late arrivals for practice, Emery has really done nothing positive for this team.

I would really be treating Emery as if this were his last season with the Senators. I would believe that the Sens are going to gauge Emery's performance from now until the end of the season to see where Emery fits into the team's future. Without a drastic change in his maturity and on ice performance, Emery's days in a Senators uniform are numbered. This is a team that could've dealt him at the trade deadline for a more reliable goaltender and shifted attention to more important matters (winning perhaps). But clearly, the Sens ownership does not want to admit they made a mistake with Emery.

Nevertheless, I predict the Senators will not make it past the second round of this year's playoffs. Unless, their goaltending improves tremendously, they receive more scoring from their depth players (where the heck did Mike Fisher go?) and their elite players can stay healthy. Otherwise you would have to assume Melnyk is going to have to make a few drastic changes in the makeup of this team, as it is starting to look a lot like the pre-trade deadline Tampa Bay Lightning