Division 6th Adams 1992–93 record 10–70–4 Road record 1–41–0 | Conference 12th Wales Home record 9–29–4 Goals for 202 | |
The 1992–93 Ottawa Senators season was the inaugural season of the modern Ottawa Senators. Despite winning the first game of the regular season on October 8, 1992, the Senators would only win nine more en route to their worst season ever. The team recorded three NHL records that season: the longest home losing streak of eleven, from October 27 to December 8; the longest road losing streak with a total of 38, from October 10 to April 3 (nearly the whole season) and fewest road wins in a season, with just one victory.
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Team business
On June 2, 1992, the then city of Kanata gave approval of the Palladium project. On June 29, the club held ground-breaking ceremonies for the Palladium project at the site. The team was still seeking partners for financing the project and Ogden Corporation would back $120 million in loans on November 11. Actual construction would begin in 1994.
On June 15, Rick Bowness was named as the team's first head coach. Bowness was previously a head coach for the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins.
On July 29, 1992, team president and former Ottawa mayor, Jim Durrell resigned.
Expansion and Entry drafts
The team's struggles started before the season when, at the expansion draft, Senators management attempted to make three draft picks who were ineligible. They had wanted to select players from the Canadiens and Maple Leafs after they had both lost two, the maximum. To top it off, the Sens selected C. J. Young from Calgary off the wrong master list of players. The players the Senators did select were "journeymen NHLers or player who had good years in minor leagues but no longer were considered prospects."
At the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, the Sens selected "relative unknown" Alexei Yashin as their first choice, second overall. Yashin opted to play in Moscow for the 1992–93 season instead of with the Sens.
Pre-season
The Senators held their first training camp at the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull, Quebec, on September 8. The team played its first game in Hartford against the Hartford Whalers. The game ends in a 1–1 tie, and the Senators first goal is scored by Neil Brady. The first game in Ottawa since re-joining the NHL is played on September 18. The Washington Capitals defeat Ottawa 4–3. The first win by the Senators since re-entry into the NHL is recorded on September 24, a 4–3 win against the New York Islanders. Defenceman Brad Shaw scored the winning goal. On October 7, just before the start of the regular season, the Senators announce Laurie Boschman as the team's first captain.
Regular season
The Senators finished last in goals scored (202), wins (10), points (24, tied with the San Jose Sharks), even-strength goals scored (129), power-play goals for (66, tied with the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks), power play goals against (115) and power play % (14.73) and shooting percentage (8.9%; 202 goals on 2,281 shots).
Two Senators recorded hat tricks during the regular season; Bob Kudelski scored one in a 3–2 victory over San Jose on Sunday, January 10, 1993 and Laurie Boschman scored one on Saturday, April 10, 1993, in a 5–3 win on the road against the New York Islanders.
Highlights
The new Senators played their first game on October 8, 1992, in the Ottawa Civic Centre defeating the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens by a score of 5–3. The game was televised on Hockey Night In Canada and was in front of a sold-out Ottawa Civic Centre with 10,449 in attendance. The ceremonial face-off between Laurie Boschman and Denis Savard was done by Frank Finnigan, Jr. (his father having died on Christmas Day, 1991), Bruce Firestone and Gil Stein. There was lots of pre-game spectacle—the skating of Brian Orser, the 9 banners being raised to honour the original Senators' Stanley Cup wins, retirement of Frank Finnigan's jersey number and the singing of the anthem by Alanis Morissette. The game was attended by Russell Williams, an Ottawa fan who had witnessed the last Stanley Cup win in Ottawa in the 1927 Stanley Cup Final, and would later attend the games of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, held in Ottawa.
Starting Lineup
Starting Players:
Others: Mark Lamb, Doug Smail, Darcy Loewen, Jamie Baker, Laurie Boschman, Andrew McBain, Norm Maciver, Chris Luongo, Tomas Jelinek, Marc Fortier, Mark Osiecki, Darren Rumble, Mike Peluso, Steve Weeks
Source: Ottawa Senators Media Guide 1998–99. Ottawa Senators. 1998. p. 193.Neil Brady scored the first goal for the modern-day Ottawa Senators franchise in the game.
It would take the Sens 39 games to win a road game, their third last road game of the season. It would be the only road win for the Sens in the entire season, and the only points won on the road as well. After the season, General Manager Mel Bridgman was fired, and eventually would be replaced by Randy Sexton.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs
Regular season
Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goalsMin, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Awards
Milestones
Source: Ottawa Senators 2007–08 Media Guide. Ottawa Senators. 2007.
Waivers
Source: Ottawa Senators 2007–08 Media Guide. Ottawa Senators. 2007. p. 183.
Expansion Draft
The Senators participated in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft on June 18, 1992, to fill their roster for the 1992–93 NHL Season.
Entry Draft
Ottawa's draft picks at the 1992 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec.