"The Ottawa Senators have made the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 seasons and that's an impressive statistic. But for a city that hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1927, it's only the first step. Playing in the postseason will be expected of the Sens in 2010-11, but how far they go will depend on the health of key veterans and the impact of newly acquired defenseman Sergei Gonchar.

Using last season as a barometer for this year's outlook isn't fair, considering key injuries undermined the Senators' quest for postseason glory. Ottawa fought valiantly in the 2009-10 playoffs before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, and did so without key regulars like right winger Alexei Kovalev, defenseman Filip Kuba and forward Milan Michalek. If those personnel losses weren't enough to send the club packing, captain Daniel Alfredsson revealed he'd been playing with a painful abdominal tear that was corrected with a sports hernia procedure in May.

With an offseason heavy on rehabilitation, the Sens look ready to compete, but the feeling in Ottawa is more desperate than in years past. With key veterans getting older, this group is running out of time."