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Season preview: Senators

Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 41-31-6-4, 92 points (2nd in Northeast, 8th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost to New York Rangers 4-3

Coach: Paul MacLean (41-31-6-4, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: C Jason Spezza (34 goals, 50 assists, 84 points)

Top returning goalie: Craig Anderson (32-22-6, 2.84, .914)

Key additions: LW Guillaume Latendresse; D Mike Lundin; D Marc Methot.

Key subtractions: LW Nick Foligno; D Filip Kuba; D Matt Gilroy; RW Bobby Butler; G Alex Auld; C Zenon Konopka; D Matt Carkner.

Goaltending: Anderson was a workhorse for Senators last season, but there’s plenty of depth behind him. Ben Bishop, acquired from St. Louis last season, was an AHL Second All-Star choice, while Robin Lehner, the AHL playoff MVP in 2011, might eventually be the best of the bunch.

Player to watch: C Mika Zibanejad. There’s been no shortage of high hopes for Ottawa’s top pick in the 2011 entry draft, but injuries thus far have slowed his development. Speedy forward with quick burst and soft hands has struggled with concussion-related issues and has scored just once in 17 AHL games this season.

Icing: Surprise team of 2011-12 suits up reigning Norris Trophy winner in D Anders Karlsson, who led all NHL blue-liners with 59 assists and 78 points. At 22, he was youngest Norris winner since Bobby Orr won it back-to-back at 20 and 21 . . . Could be swan song season for captain Daniel Alfredsson, franchise career leader in seasons (16), games (1,131), goals (416) assists (666) and points (1,082).

Bob Duff writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NHL for the Windsor (Ontario) Star; The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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