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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Marian Hossa  29     Shawn McEachern  29  Assists  Daniel Alfredsson  38  Points  Radek Bonk  60  +/-  Shaun Van allen  20  Shots  Marian Hossa  240  Ice Time (F)  Daniel Alfredsson  18:44  Ice Time (D)  Wade Redden  23:42  Faceoff Pct.  Radek Bonk  52%  Hits  Radek Bonk  211  PP Pts  Radek Bonk  20  SH Pts  Daniel Alfredsson  4

Alexei Yashin. There we said it. Now let's move on, because there is nothing we can tell you now that will be as important as what happens when he takes to the ice for the regular season after his "decision" to return to the Senators. So …

Jacques Martin, after quietly taking his team from laughing stock to 100-point outfit -- with win totals of 10 (in 38 games), 31, 34 and 44 -- presided over a 41-win team in 1999-2000. And while it's not a terrible dropoff, the Senators, for better or worse, are now considered the proverbial "playoff team." And yet the Sens haven't acquitted themselves particularly well in their playoff appearances.

Most recently, Ottawa lost the Battle of Ontario in what eventually became an exciting six-game series. But the Senators scored only one goal in the first two games of that series, before closing the gap valiantly with wins in Games 3 and 4 and an overtime loss to the Maple Leafs in Game 5. In Game 6 though, the Sens fretted away a 2-0 lead on home ice, lost the game, exited the playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive season and went back to the drawing board. Only that board is covered with a number of questions.

For more on the Senators, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Yashin is still a good hockey player -- even if he's rusty -- and should score at least 30 goals. Radek Bonk had a breakout season, almost doubling previous career highs in goals and points as No. 1 with Yashin out. Marian Hossa continued to show top-line (in Ottawa, at least) talent, too. Magnus Arvedson, who made that line even more dangerous, should be healthy for 2000-01. Last season he played only 47 games (punctured stomach on an open bench door, groin injury). Martin Havlat is an early Calder Trophy favorite. The goaltenders -- Patrick Lalime (who begins the season as the No. 1) and Jani Hurme -- will earn a combined $1.4 million in 2000-01, saving the team a great expense.		Can't feel comfortable going into the playoffs with Hurme or Lalime no matter how well they play in the regular season. In arbitration hearings the team accused Bonk of disappearing without Arvedson. Can Bonk put up another 50-point season? Captain Daniel Alfredsson has averaged only about 56 games over the past three seasons. Martin turned down a two-year contract extension before the 1999-2000 playoffs and this coming season is the final one for which he is under contract. Team's small-market approach -- develop the kids -- may win games in the regular season but hasn't done Ottawa any good in the playoffs. In the Goaltending Era, is goaltending the best place to scrimp and save?

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Magnus Arvedson	LW	Ottawa	Re-signed
Radek Bonk	F	Ottawa	Re-signed
Ivan Ciernik	RW	Ottawa	Re-signed
John Emmons	C	Ottawa	Re-signed
Sean Gagnon	D	Phoenix	Free agent
John Gruden	D	Ottawa	Re-signed
Shane Hnidy	D	Ottawa	Re-signed
Derek King	F	St. Louis	Free agent
David Oliver	RW	Phoenix	Free agent
Ricard Persson	D	St. Louis	Free agent
Chris Phillips	D	Ottawa	Re-signed
Andre Roy	LW	Ottawa	Re-signed
Todd White	C	Philadelphia	Free agent
Jason York	D	Ottawa	Re-signed

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Kevin Dineen	RW	Columbus	Expansion
Joe Juneau	C/LW	Minnesota	Expansion
Yves Sarault	LW	Atlanta	Free agent
Patrick Traverse	D	Ottawa	Trade
Shaun Van Allen	C	Dallas	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Martin Havlat, C, 6' 1", 178
Born: March 19, 1981 in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
Acquired: 1999 entry draft (No. 26 overall)
Havlat decided to play the 1999-2000 past season at home and would have been sent back to the Czech Republic if he didn't make the team. Montreal director of player personnel Andre Savard, who served as the Senators top scout when they drafted Havlat, said, "I think what you've got right there is another Marian Hossa. He's got to get a little bit stronger, he's got to get used to playing the North American game and he's going to have to go through the whole adjustment of living over here, but when he gets through that he's going to be excellent."

Get the Highlighter
Thursday, Oct. 5 at Boston. Perhaps Yashin plays his first NHL game in 2000. And remember, he's doing it for you, at the low, low price of only $43,902.44 per game.
Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Dallas and Friday , Oct. 13 vs. New Jersey. Taking on the Stanley Cup finalists six days apart before …
Saturday, Oct. 14 at Toronto. Sens first look at the team that dumped them in the Battle of Ontario.
Saturday, April 7 vs. Toronto. Facing the cross-province rivals in the final game of the 2000-01 season.

Quoteworthy
"We don't have the money to sign guys like Shayne Corson and Gary Roberts. We have a good philosophy here and the players believe in what we're doing. The goal this year, as it always is, is to improve. I always think that you have to go into a season trying to make the playoffs and then you go from there. But if we're going to go further in playoffs, then we have to get more from the people we already have here."
—Jacques Martin

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

 

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