"The Ottawa Senators are "very close" to a being true Stanley Cup contender, according to their new No. 1 defenceman.

Speaking with with the press in Ottawa for the first time since signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract on July 1, Sergei Gonchar argued his squad is well positioned to skate with the big boys in the Eastern Conference.

"Hopefully, with my addition, we can go far in the playoffs and win the Cup," he said Friday.

Gonchar certainly has some credibility when discussing the Senators' fortunes. The former Pittsburgh Penguin has, after all, faced his new team in three times over the past four postseasons and knows what to expect from the likes of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Alex Kovalev.

"Obviously, I've played against them and know how good they and how skilled they are and what they're capable of," he said. "I was looking forward to (signing here) because I know what those guys are capable of.""