Ottawa Senators key statistics
Tkachuk's production should increase; power play, SAT must improve
by Rob Reese @NHLReese / NHL.com Staff Writer
NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three key statistics for the Ottawa Senators.
[Senators 31 IN 31: Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Tkachuk's goals per 60
Forward Brady Tkachuk made an immediate impact in his rookie season with 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 71 games. He also led the Senators in points (2.37) and goals (1.16) per 60 minutes among skaters who played at least 70 games for them. Among NHL rookies who played at least 25 games, Tkachuk was third in points and goals per 60 minutes behind Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (3.06, 1.30) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson (2.59, 1.20). With center Matt Duchene and forwards Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone gone, Tkachuk likely will see an increase in ice time per game (16:01 last season), so it's feasible to expect Tkachuk will take a step forward in terms of production.
Video: OTT@NYR: Tkachuk converts on a two-man advantage
2. Power-play percentage
Despite finishing last in the NHL standings in 2018-19, the Senators power play was tied for 13th in the League (20.3 percent). Stone, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 25, had 17 power-play points in 59 games to lead Ottawa, so the top unit could be negatively impacted in its first full season without him. Forward Bobby Ryan and defenseman Thomas Chabot each had 16 power-play points, tied for second on the Senators. With Stone, Duchene and Dzingel gone, there is an opportunity for center Colin White to have an increased role on the power play after he averaged 2:07 of ice time per game on the man-advantage last season.
Video: 31 in 31: Ottawa Senators 2019-20 season preview
3. Shot attempts differential
Ottawa was last in the NHL with a minus-818 shot attempts differential last season. Defenseman Cody Ceci was last in the NHL with a minus-342 SAT but was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1. As part of that trade, the Senators received defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, who had a minus-13 SAT last season (second worst among Maple Leafs defensemen, ahead of only the minus-34 of Ron Hainsey, who signed a one-year contract with the Senators on July 1) and may struggle in a similar role as Ceci. The poor possession metrics could explain Ottawa's NHL-worst 219 goals-against at 5-on-5, 28 more than the second-worst Philadelphia Flyers (191).
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