Looking back, the most remarkable things about the Senators making the playoffs last season is that they did so despite all of the injuries.
Specifically, those that sidelined their most experienced players.
Veteran defensive defencemen Marc Methot and Chris Phillips combined to miss 82 games, the equivalent of one full season. Their two most physical forwards, Chris Neil and Zack Smith, were absent for 44 and 45 games, respectively. Their best left winger, Clarke MacArthur, was sidelined 20 games with a concussion, while solid port sider Milan Michalek missed 16, including 11 with a head injury.