At first, expectations coming into the nation’s capital were rather moderate for Nick Paul. After all, the former 2013 4th-round pick of the Dallas Stars was just one of four pieces the Ottawa Senators received in exchange for superstar forward Jason Spezza on July 1st, 2014.
However, as Alex Chiasson failed to make an impact with the big club, and Alex Guptill and Gabriel Gagne were swapped out for minor-league depth, it became increasingly clear that Paul was the only source of potential left in the wake of the most talented centre to wear a Senators jersey.