With the offseason in full swing and many, but not all, free agents off the board, all hockey fans, us included, can’t wait for October. Here at Last Word on Hockey, we have been exploring some different “bests” during the long, hot days of summer. Best players by number for a few teams , top Canadians by position , and top first-round draft picks are some of the select rankings our writers have been exploring. As an ode to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, here for the Ottawa Senators, we are looking at the all-time starting lineups based on nationality. Other teams have started this series as well, such as the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins .
The Ottawa Senators All-Time Best Russian Starting Lineup
A few parameters to this list to get us started. This will be a starting lineup, so two wingers, one centre, two defencemen, and a goalie. The player must have played in the NHL with the Senators (so not considering prospects). Also since the 1992 reincarnation of the franchise. The assessment comes from the players best performance with, and impact on, the Senators. Hence, not a player’s career if he played with other teams. We have already completed the American team and now we continue our series. So, let’s get down to business and the all-time Ottawa Senators Russian starting lineup.
| W | C | W |
| Alex Kovalev | Alexei Yashin | Vladimir Tarasenko |
| D | D | |
| Anton Volchenkov | Artem Zub | |
| G | ||
| Peter Sidorkiewicz |
Alex Kovalev
Kovalev wasn’t a member of the Ottawa Senators for very long. However, similar to many great NHLers that have passed through the Canadian national capital, his initial acquisition did bring much fanfare. Overall in his career, Kovalev scored 1000 points and won a Stanley Cup. He played almost two seasons in Ottawa, but was moved part way through the 2010-11 season to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When he arrived in Ottawa, he was at that the twilight of his career. Therefore, his production was decent if you take that into consideration. In 131 games, he scored 32 goals and added 44 assists for 76 points. Unfortunately, he went down with a knee injury prior to his one shot in the post-season with the Sens . It is always tough to think ‘what if.’ Conversely, a healthy Kovalev would have benefited the Sens in that 2010 first-round Stanley Cup playoff exit to the Penguins. In any case, with his stardom, and the fact he had nearly two productive seasons, Alex Kovalev makes our list, on the wing, for the all-time Ottawa Senators Russian starting lineup.
Alexei Yashin
Next up is one of the best Ottawa Senators in the franchise’s 30-plus year existence, and definitely one of their first stars. Not to be starting a theme, but even with Yashin’s excellent production as a member of the Sens, his tenure is definitely marked as a ‘what if’ scenario.
Yashin was introduced to Ottawa as the second overall selection by the club in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Right from the get-go, he really was all the Sens could ask for in beginning to turn their franchise into a respectable NHL contender. In his rookie season, Yashin had 79 points and finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting for league’s top rookie. All total, in seven seasons with the club, he amassed 491 points in 504 games played. This included some notables, with his 94 point, 1998-99 campaign, where he finished second in the league’s Hart Trophy voting. Moreover, he was there to lead the offensive charge when the franchise first made it to the post-season.
However, with great results, comes great expectations. And Yashin, rightfully so, expected to get paid, despite his approach being very disrespectful. Yashin begrudgingly sat out the 1999-2000 season. In fact, he ended up being forced to play out the final year of his $3.6 M contract by an Ontario judge before he could move on . He did have a strong 2000-01 campaign with the Sens. Therefore, he parlayed that into a big payday from the New York Islanders . Unfortunately, the relationship between Yashin and the entire city of Ottawa was ruined. He posted some decent seasons with the Isles. However, he never really got back to the form he had before the season he sat out. In another case, even with the ‘what if’ aspect, the star makes the list as the best Russian centre to have played for the Ottawa Senators franchise.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Tarasenko had an interesting influence during his time in Ottawa . By all reports, he seemed to enjoy the area, and would only waive his no-trade clause for the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers . Tarasenko had originally been signed by the general manager at the time, Pierre Dorion, to a one-year, $5 M deal in the summer of 2023. The signing was filled with optimism. The Sens were looking to field a competitive roster for the start of the 2023-24 season. Furthermore, Tarasenko did his part, in a more so supporting offensive role, he posted 41 points in 57 games for the Sens.
In contrast, with the team out of playoff contention, but also the new GM Steve Staios ‘ hands tied with the lack of places to send Tarasenko, they traded him for a pair of (lower) draft picks. However, given the hype with his initial signing, and his decent production in his short time here, Tarasenko makes it on our list.
Anton Volchenkov
Now that we have survived the talent-filled, by potential unfilled group of forwards, we move to defence. The pair of defence we selected are definitely on the other end of the spectrum. They are both noted as being reliable and consistent. The first up is ‘the Anvil,’ Anton Volchenkov. During his prime, no forward in the league wanted to feel the brunt of a Volchenkov hit into the boards. Furthermore, he was a crucial member of the Sens blueline on playoff runs. He played in 17 games during the 2003 run as a rookie. Additionally, he was one of the Sens best defencemen in 2007, playing over 23 minutes a game that spring. He played seven years for the Ottawa Senators and is clearly one of the two best Russian defencemen in franchise history.
Artem Zub
The next member of the blueline is still building his legacy. Zub joined the Sens as an undrafted, 25-year-old to start the 2020-21 season. He had already established himself as a dependable defender in the KHL. And now it was time to apply his craft at the NHL level. Zub has been a very consistent member of the Sens backend since his arrival. The Sens defence as a unit has been in disarray, but one reliable constant has been Zub.
In addition, since Jake Sanderson has come on the scene, Zub and Sanderson have formed a wonderful pairing together. For example, from moneypuck’s xGoals% , in 828.6 minutes played together, the duo was at 55.1%. Their skillset complements one another’s so well, and they are as solid of a first or second pairing unit as you will find. For these reasons, and Zub finding his home in Ottawa, he finds himself as an all-time Russian starting defencemen for the Senators.
Peter Sidorkiewicz
In case it wasn’t obvious from the forwards, given the big names, but there wasn’t actually a lot to choose from in terms of real impact. And, when we came to netminders, there wasn’t any at all. So, we went with one of their geographical influences, from Poland, Peter Sidorkiewicz. Sidorkiewicz gets the nod for his historical influence on the Senators organization, and also, a bit of mercy honour. He was the starting goalie in the inaugural ten-win, NHL Senators campaign. He was peppered that year, in 64 games, he went 8-46-3. His GAA was an abysmal 4.43, but hey, the Senators franchise was here. And someone had to get them through those early, painful years of their existence. So shout out to one of the original Senators. And to prove we see no borders at Last Word, yes, a Polish goaltender representing the Russian starting lineup.
The Honourable Mentions of the Best (Loosely) Russian Ottawa Senators Starting Lineup
There were other Russian players to suit up for the Ottawa Senators, but no goaltenders, and that includes the separated states from the old U.S.S.R. Some other skaters include Evgenii Dadonov , Sergei Gonchar , and Igor Kravchuk , but those along with a few others, never had the amount of games played to work their way onto this starting lineup. Or in Tarasenko’s case, the impact of being a big name playing here and then leaving to win a cup. Dadonov could’ve replaced Tarasenko given his role in the Dorion resignation . But again, the body of work, in terms of games played just wasn’t there. So, hopefully you all enjoyed this one. Stay tuned as we continue on our series with other countries’ best Sens lineup in the days to come.
Main photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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