Last season, the Ottawa Senators were one goal away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. This season, the team finished one spot away from ranking last overall in the National Hockey League.

The Senators never found traction on the ice in 2017-18. Off the ice, team owner Eugene Melnyk had a series of questionable moments in the spotlight leading to #MelnykOut billboards downtown and overall ill will between the team and its fans.

It was a failed year in nearly all aspects.

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Overall Team: F

Discounting the 2012-13 lockout-shortened campaign, 67 points marked the Senators worst total since the 1995-96 season, their fourth in existence. The team opened well, earning points in 13 of their first 16 outings.

Then there was a 3-10-2 freefall, the debatable trade in which Kyle Turris departed and Matt Duchene arrived, scoring woes, terrible defensive play, poor goaltending and Erik Karlsson valiantly trying to play at his usual elite level while nowhere close to 100 percent following offseason ankle surgery.

The club did have an opportunity to climb back into the wild card race in early-January. The Senators won three of four heading into their bye week – only to inexplicably lose six straight games upon their return and become an afterthought in the playoff race.

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Eleven road victories, exactly half of their 2016-17 output, didn’t help their cause either.

The team failed to gel. Team chemistry, a boon last season, never occurred this past season.

Coach: F

Guy Boucher said as much in his exit media availability Monday.

“Our group gelling this year was more difficult than last year. It’s not just how your system is. It’s who plays with who. What kind of chemistry you have with players, work ethic, attitude, discipline…Last year we had everyone playing on the same page.”

So what happened? Granted the team may have over-achieved the previous season, but they played Boucher’s 1-3-1 system to a tee. Players gave opponents fits, forcing turnovers in the neutral zone. This season was a polar opposite. The opposition gained the blue line with ease and once inside, found seams after spotty defensive coverage.

The Senators were shut out 11 times and gave up four goals or more in 48 pe cent of their games. The club finished with a minus-70 goal differential. Special teams were disastrous. The power play and penalty kill ranked 27th and 26th league-wide respectively. Even a swap of PP and PK duties between assistants Marc Crawford and Martin Raymond failed to command positive results.

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A decision hasn’t been finalized if Boucher or staff members will return in 2018-19.

General Manager Pierre Dorion didn not exactly offer a ringing endorsement last week. At Tuesday’s Town Hall, the GM responded to fans, “How can a team with Erik Karlsson in the lineup finish 27th on the power play?”

“Two things will change – that’s for sure – if he’s back: The implementation of younger players into our lineup. We have to practice more. ‘Rest is a weapon’, if I hear that one more time, I’ll go crazy,” added Dorion at his media availability Thursday.

General Manager: C+

Lottery-protecting the Senators 2018 first-round selection acquired from the Avalanche in a deal that also landed Duchene will likely go down as Dorion’s greatest move. This, and moving centre Derick Brassard to the Penguins for a second first-rounder plus the World Junior Championship’s most outstanding goalie Filip Gustavsson.

The pair of moves give the Senators a brighter future. By virtue of their poor standing, the team will have a 13.5 per cent opportunity to land projected number one pick Rasmus Dahlin. At the very least, the team is guaranteed a top-five pick for the first time since selecting Jason Spezza second overall in 2001.

The one thing Sens fans can appreciate is Dorion, a scout at heart, has a penchant for drafting well. The Orleans resident puts trust in his Head of Amateur Scouting Trent Mann, but also travels to see highly-touted prospects when time allows.

Drake Batherson, Logan Brown and Alex Formenton are primary examples of players competing for full-time roster spots next season from the past two Entry Drafts.

While Dorion wasn’t aware forward Clarke MacArthur would fail his training camp physical, the GM never adequately filled his spot on the roster.

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On recommendations from his coach, Dorion added centre Nate Thompson off free agency and claimed another, Gabriel Dumont off waivers. Neither move helped the club. Thompson, mainly due to a $1.6m second year on his deal was dealt to the Kings along with Dion Phaneuf. While Dumont was subsequently waived, but not before taking minutes away from up-and-comers Filip Chlapik and Colin White.

Awarded a three-year extension in February, Dorion has been entrusted the daunting task of re-signing core players, Duchene, Mark Stone and, of course, Karlsson.

Karlsson and Duchene are potential July 2019 unrestricted free agents. The GM can’t afford to lose either player in what may become a game of chicken July 1, when contract negotiations with players are allowed to begin.

As for Stone and defenseman Cody Ceci, the pair are restricted free agents, meaning barring a trade neither player can leave Ottawa.

Forwards

Mark Stone: A

Despite missing the final 15 games with an ankle sprain, and appearing in only 58 games total, Stone’s 62-point (20 goals, 42 assists) total led the Senators. A leader on and off the ice, the right wing was awarded an ‘A’ during training camp. The Winnipeg native was often the first player to meet media during postgame availability, giving blunt and honest assessments of unwanted results.

Matt Duchene: A –

Duchene, the focus of trade rumours for the better portion of two seasons finally landed in Ottawa in November. However, his start was a rocky one. Peppering opposition goalies with 24 shots, Duchene failed to garner a point in his first seven games with the club. But as the season wore on, the 27-year old felt more comfortable in his new surroundings. Playing three hours away from his off-season home, Haliburton, ON, Duchene led the club with 27 goals, tying the second-best mark of his nine-year career.

Ryan Dzingel: B+

Dzingel had a breakthrough 2017-18 campaign. The feisty, speedy winger notched 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 79 outings, equaling his 41-point total in his previous 111 games with the franchise. Dzingel’s ice-time increased two full minutes over the previous season.

Mike Hoffman: B-

Hoffman is a dynamic player. His shot and speed are world class. However, at times he appeared distant, not engaged on the ice. As the season wound down, the 28-year old was without a goal in the Senators’ final 12 games, compiling only four assists. Hoffman’s 22-goal total was his lowest in four full seasons, despite playing all 82 games

Dorion admitted pushing Hoffman at his recent exit meeting, “Randy (AGM Randy Lee) and myself just challenged him on where do you think on a level of 1-10, how do think you played? – Why was that? – And more importantly, why do you think you’ll better next year? And he responded well.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau: C+

The diminutive centre doesn’t post great offensive numbers, 14 goals and 29 points, but his effort can’t be questioned. Pageau is often matched up versus opponent’s top lines, an important role on the team.

Hockey Canada also saw the value in Pageau’s game, adding the Ottawa resident to Canada’s entry at the World Championship being held in May.

Bobby Ryan: C

Ryan’s last two seasons were comparable, and equally disappointing, playing in exactly 62 games due to missing 20 with various finger/hand injuries each year. His 33 points were a modest improvement to his previous 25-point total. However, Ryan’s cap hit of $7.25m the next four years is a contentious issue Senators’ management is attempting to deal with.

Needing to sign their core players, Dorion is faced with the task of attempting to move Ryan’s contract, while maintaining Karlsson in the fold. It was rumored the GM was in talks to add Ryan to a possible Karlsson trade at the deadline. However, Dorion adamantly denied this.

Magnus Paarjarvi: C

Realizing the team may be moving out a few forwards at the trade deadline, the Senators plucked Paarjarvi off the waiver wire. The Swede fulfilled a fourth line a role, and third when called upon. An impending UFA, it wouldn’t surprise if Paarjarvi is welcomed back by the club.

Tom Pyatt: C-

Pyatt knows his role well, a bottom-six forward who is an adequate penalty killer. The winger led all NHL forwards with 93 blocked shots.

Zack Smith: C-

Shuttled throughout the forward ranks mainly due to injuries, Smith never found his groove. The Saskatchewan native compiled only five goals, 19 points in 64 games. While plus-minus is no longer considered an indicator of true performance, Smith finished minus-32, the worst number of his 11-year pro career.

Alex Burrows: D

On Bag Day, Burrows indicated his status with the team will likely be decided closer to the June 24 Draft. This about sums up his disappointing season. At age 37, heading into the final year of his $2.5m deal, Burrows becomes a buyout candidate. The right wing didn’t help his cause after receiving a 10-game suspension for kneeing Devils Taylor Hall.

Marian Gaborik: D

Acquired from the Kings prior to the trade deadline, Gaborik played 16 games with the Senators picking up four goals, three assists. The 36-year old’s future status is one to monitor during the off-season. Gaborik recently had surgery on a herniated disk in his back. His recovery time coincides with the league’s buyout period. There’s also a possibility of putting the Slovakian on Long Term Injured Reserve if he’s deemed unhealthy to 25 games into the next season.

Incomplete – Filip Chlapik, Max McCormick, Colin White

Defense

Erik Karlsson: A-

Karlsson had a difficult season on and off the ice. However, for any defenseman not named Erik Karlsson, this season would be declared a relative success. Offensively, the Senators captain reached the 50-assist plateau for the fifth time in his nine-year career – a feat only 14 NHL defenseman have ever accomplished. Karlsson was one of only seven d-men to earn 60 points (62) or more. His minus-25 notwithstanding, the 27-year old managed a 50.92 positive Corsi at even-strength, while averaging the third-most time-on-ice of any NHL player (26:44).

Dorion stated he’ll make Karlsson a very generous “eight-year” offer July 1, but will it be rich enough to keep the league’s most-dynamic blue-liner in Ottawa?

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Thomas Chabot: B

During training camp Boucher made the remark, “You can’t feed steak to a baby,” indicating Chabot needed more time to hone his skills in the American League. By the end of the season, the rookie defenseman was eating filet mignon. The 21-year old gained confidence, and ice-time, as the season wore on. Chabot’s ascent drew the attention of Hockey Canada, who named him to the World Championship roster. The youngster is barely scratching the surface of his potential.

Mark Borowiecki: B-

Borowiecki made only 52 appearances, but opponents knew when he was on the ice. The hard-nosed defenseman managed to still finish 11th league-wide in hits, averaging an NHL high 4.3 per game. The Kanata native isn’t known for soft hands, but Borowiecki added 11 points tying his career high, including three goals – matching his previous three seasons combined.

Cody Ceci: C

Ceci was second in time-on-ice to only Karlsson (23:20) and played in all 82 games. However, after five seasons it’s still unclear where the 24-year fits on the Senators back end. Known as an offensive defenseman with the Ottawa 67’s, Ceci’s best NHL season was a 26-point effort in 2015-16. He compiled 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) in 2017-18. Defensively Ceci had a league-worst negative-354 even-strength shot differential. Only one other NHL player possessed a negative number over 300, former Sen Dion Phaneuf (-310).

Coming off a contract with a $2.8m cap hit, Ceci heads into the off-season as a RFA. This is one negotiation that won’t be easy for the Senators GM.

Fredrik Claesson: C-

After a solid season in 2016-17, more was expected from Claesson. The Swede never found consistency and was a healthy scratch on 16 occasions. Claesson’s highlight; scoring his lone goal on the season in front family and friends in his hometown, Stockholm.

Ben Harpur: D

The more Harpur played this season, it became evident the lanky six-foot-six, 222-pounder needed to work on his core strength. Unfortunately the 23-year old, who inked a two-year, one-way $1.45m extension in February, will get a late start this off-season. Harpur separated a shoulder in Game 82. The jury is still out on the Niagara-on-the-Lake resident, but most NHL defenseman with similar builds require a several seasons to develop.

Incomplete – Chris Wideman, Christian Wolanin

Goaltending

Craig Anderson: C-

Anderson had a season he’d like to forget, posting his worst numbers (3.32 goals against average, .898 save percentage) since 2005-06 while a Blackhawks backup. At age 36 the question is if he can return to the level of play fans have grown accustomed or was the Parkland, FL resident a major culprit in his team’s terrible performance? Signed to a two-year extension, Anderson had an injury-free campaign and would like nothing better than to carry the Senators back to the playoffs.

Mike Condon: C-

A saviour last season, Condon won only five of 26 starts this season. Like Anderson, Condon posted sub-par stats -- 3.25 GAA, .902 save percentage. As poor as the numbers are, the second-year Sen could’ve sued his teammates for lack of support. The club scored two goals or less in 16 of those 26 starts.

Dorion intimated, the Senators will open 2018-19 with the same goaltending duo. The team will need bounce-back seasons from both of them.