How Fabian Zetterlund could unlock Senators’ scoring attack

As a new NHL season dawns, there is renewed optimism in Ottawa after the Senators ended their lengthy playoff drought.

It will be up to Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson and Ottawaâ€s other top players to build on that promising season.

But as is often the case, a secondary player or two will need to emerge to help keep things moving in the right direction. For the Senators, Fabian Zetterlund fits that description.

Although Zetterlundâ€s numbers (two goals and five points in 20 regular-season games) did not blow anyone away after he joined the Senators in a trade-deadline deal with the San Jose Sharks, Ottawaâ€s front office saw enough to sign him to a three-year contract worth $4.275 million annually.

Prior to the deadline, Zetterlund was one of the Sharks†top producers with 17 goals and 36 points over 64 games. He scored all but one of those goals from the slot, including 12 from the inner slot. The latter total ranked second on the Sharks before the trade.

Zetterlund did not shy away from the hard areas upon landing in Ottawa. In fact, he led the Senators in 5-on-5 scoring chances (31) during his 20 regular-season games. But only one of those chances entered the net. Zetterlund scored 1.92 goals below expected at 5-on-5 for the Senators, which was the worst mark on the team following his arrival. In simpler terms, Zetterlund deserved better offensively.

“I thought he created a lot of chances last year,†Senators coach Travis Green told reporters recently. “I think he was good last year. Heâ€s still improving. (He) looks a little lighter and looks a little quicker this year. … I think goal-scorers kind of figure out how to score, and they do it in different ways. But youâ€ve got to get to the net to score, thatâ€s for sure.â€

Zetterlund, who had a consistent spot in the top six in San Jose, took on a lesser role when he first joined the Senators, starting on the fourth line alongside Matthew Highmore and Adam Gaudette. Eventually, Green promoted Zetterlund to Stützleâ€s line, which paid dividends for the Senators. The team generated 62.6 per cent of the expected goals at even strength when Zetterlund and Stützle were on the ice simultaneously, out-chancing opponents 73-39 in 137:42 of ice time during the regular season.

Unsurprisingly, Zetterlundâ€s individual numbers spiked when partnered with Stützle, whose 55 assists and 79 points led the Senators last season. Zetterlundâ€s rate of scoring chances per 20 minutes at 5-on-5 jumped from 1.85 without Stützle to 3.09 with him.

“Just get open,†Zetterlund told reporters about his mindset when playing with Stützle. “Then also win puck battles, wall battles to give him the puck when he has the speed. Thatâ€s why he beats so many defencemen in this league.â€

At the start of training camp, Zetterlund was considered a leading candidate to play right wing on Stützleâ€s line opposite Tkachuk, but it appears he’ll instead open the season on Dylan Cozens†line with David Perron. (Second-line winger Drake Batherson will miss at least the next two weeks after pulling an upper-body muscle.)

Zetterlund and Cozens, acquired by the Senators on the same day, did not spend much time together at even strength last season (41:42), and Ottawaâ€s performance during those minutes was not particularly impressive. Opponents outscored the Senators 5-2 at 5-on-5.

Claude Giroux has been practising with Tkachuk and Stützle, a combination that played more than 220 minutes at 5-on-5 last season and generated 58.1 per cent of the expected goals. Tkachuk, Stützle and Zetterlund, meanwhile, played around 30 minutes as a unit but were more effective at driving offence (63.9 XGF%). Green, for what it’s worth, cautioned reporters not to “get too hung up†on the lines he uses at practice.

Ottawa made the playoffs last season despite scoring the second-fewest 5-on-5 goals in the NHL. The Senators should have had nearly 30 more 5-on-5 goals based on their shot quality, which would have put them in the top half of the league.

The hope is that Zetterlund, who is two seasons removed from a career-high 24 goals, can help the Senators close that gap as they attempt to make a return trip to the post-season.

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