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For the foreseeable future, probably the greatest issues about an Ottawa Senators–Colorado Avalanche recreation would be the likelihood to see two of the sport’s most entertaining defencemen going head-to-head.
Avs defenceman Cale Makar is understood to all hockey followers throughout the NHL, and he is taking part in out of his thoughts proper now, main the NHL in scoring. No, not simply amongst defencemen, Makar is tied for the general lead with 15 factors in 8 video games.
No matter talent you worth in a defenceman, Makar has it. With the best way he skates and handles the puck, he dominates at each ends like few ever have. He is typically just like the basketball participant within the chocolate milk industrial, dominating his pickup recreation as a result of he is at common velocity whereas everybody else is taking part in in sluggish movement.
Makar has been within the prime three in Norris Trophy voting in 4 of his 5 years within the league. Within the different yr, as a rookie, he was solely ninth. Oh, the disgrace.
Simply as Connor McDavid typically evokes reminiscences of Wayne Gretzky, Gretzky says Makar reminds him of one other NHL legend.
“I might say most likely the closest participant we have ever seen that, offensively and defensively, could make an affect on the sport (as a lot as Makar), most likely Bobby Orr. We gotta go all the best way again to Bobby Orr.” Gretzky stated on a TNT broadcast within the 2022 playoffs.
Nevertheless, identical to McDavid, Makar can do issues his older counterpart by no means did. In our e book, Makar is one of the best within the recreation, and albeit, it is a bit sketchy that he solely has one Norris Trophy up to now.
In the meantime, in Ottawa, Jake Sanderson has but to change into almost as well-known throughout the league, however that day is coming quickly. When he seems within the playoffs (it is gotta occur quickly, proper?), the 4 Nations Faceoff, and the Olympics, the remainder of the world will know what Sens followers know; Sanderson is an elite defenceman.
Sanderson is off to an excellent start in his third NHL season. He is the unquestioned number-one defenceman in Ottawa and their greatest participant, taking part in in all conditions. Once more, no matter talent you worth in a defenceman, Sanderson’s acquired it too.
His skating is electrical, whether or not it is breakaway velocity or the primary two steps. His hockey IQ is loopy good in each ends. He protects the puck superbly, even when he has no house to work with. He is disciplined in his personal finish. He is rising as a legit level producer for the primary time, presently seventh within the league amongst defensemen. He quarterbacks the primary unit on the facility play, and he is on the market on the penalty kill.
Sanderson is not in Makar’s class and would possibly by no means be, however seeing how shut he would possibly get within the coming seasons ought to be enjoyable. He is solely 22, removed from his prime, and virtually 4 years youthful than Makar, who turns 26 on Tuesday.
What is going to Sanderson appear to be via the subsequent 4 years? What if he sometime will get to play on a superb crew? What if he sometime has the luxurious of taking part in with somebody like Devon Toews each night time?
Toews has been Makar’s steady-as-hell D accomplice, who’s good for north of fifty factors a yr. The Senators have nobody like that for Sanderson, who’s presently paired with Travis Hamonic, who’s not a top-four defenceman at this level, a lot much less a top-pairing one. Even Artem Zub, when wholesome, is not in Toews’ class.
And but, Sanderson is monitoring to get some Norris Trophy consideration this season.
Sunday’s Ottawa at Colorado matchup ought to be entertaining and a very good likelihood to see how Sanderson presently stacks up in opposition to one of the best of one of the best.
