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Ottawa's Jonathan Cheechoo was acquired in a trade that sent Dany Heatley to San Jose.

Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 36-35-11, 83 points (4th in Northeast, 11th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Bryan Murray (517-452-181, 16th NHL year, 4th team)

Coach: Cory Clouston (19-11-4, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Daniel Alfredsson

Top returning scorer: LW Daniel Alfredsson (24 goals, 50 assists, 74 points)

Top returning goalie: Pascal Leclaire (4-6-1, 3.83, .867)

Key additions: RW Alexei Kovalev; C Martin St. Pierre; RW Jonathan Cheechoo; LW Milan Michalek.

Key subtractions: G Alex Auld; D Brendan Bell; C Mike Comrie; LW Dany Heatley; D Jason Smith.

Top line: LW Daniel Alfredsson, C Jason Spezza, RW Alexei Kovalev

Top defensive pairing: Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov

Goaltending: Desperate for a solution to their long-standing goaltending woes, the Sens have turned to the oft-injured Leclaire, who’s been very good when healthy, only very rarely is he healthy. Limited to 12 games last season by a preseason ankle injury that ultimately required surgery, when on his game, he’s quick laterally, aggressive and athletic. Posted nine shutouts during 2007-08 season with Blue Jackets.

Player to watch: D Erik Karlsson. Retirement of Jason Smith created an opening on the Ottawa blue-line and it could go to Karlsson, voted top defenseman at last season’s world juniors. Tied for tourney scoring lead among rearguards with nine points in six games. Smallish (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) defender will likely find physical NHL a challenge, but has the puck-moving talents to overcome his lack of size.

Icing: While the Senators might be relieved to have rid themselves of the headache that is Heatley, they will be hoping Cheechoo regains his scoring touch and helps offset the loss of Heatley's team-high 39 goals. Cheechoo scored an NHL-best 56 goals in the 2005-06 season with San Jose, but has totaled 72 in the three seasons since — including only 12 last season in 66 games.

Outlook: The Heatley trade circus, combined with the addition of the seldom-motivated Kovalev led to a very unsettling summer in the Canadian capital. The winter months don’t look like they will be much better.

Prediction: 83 points (5th in Northeast, 13th seed in East)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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