2003 Ottawa Senators

Ottawa, led by young stars Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson and Patrick Lalime, looks to be set to quietly punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Senators had the best regular-season record in the NHL last year, but lost in seven games to the eventual champion New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Senators seem to running a racket, a racket that churns out dazzling young hockey players who grow into NHL stars. Almost every move works like a charm, including their rare trades: Zdeno Chara and Jason Spezza for Alexei Yashin looks odd; starting goaltender Patrick Lalime came from Anaheim for next to nothing.

The organization's quiet efficiency really means numbers on the ice. Ottawa is sometimes accused of plodding through nights of dull, safe hockey. But the sensible game plan conceals an overload of speed, strength and puck handling that leaves most defenders bewildered. If they weren't so passionate about defense, the Senators could probably score at a pace to recall the NHL of the past.

The Senators can also breath a sigh of relief after Eugene Melnyk, the billionaire owner of Capital Sports & Entertainment, finalized his purchase of the team in August. The NHL's Board of Governors had unanimously approved Melnyk's bid to buy the club and the Corel Centre in June.

Melnyk, who also owns Toronto's St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League, came forward to buy the club after previous owner Rod Bryden's offer to repurchase the team feel through.

The Senators, more than $160 million in debt, declared bankruptcy on January 9. A court-appointed monitor representing the creditors recommended in May that Melnyk's $71.8 million offer be approved.