In the high-stakes world of professional hockey, certain assets are more coveted than others. For the Ottawa Senators, the search for an impactful, right-shot defenceman has become something of an annual pilgrimage, a quest for a mythical creature believed to hold the key to defensive stability and offensive ignition. Enter Jordan Spence, the latest hopeful, acquired in an off-season move that signals General Manager Steve Staios’s unwavering commitment to solving this persistent puzzle.
The Perpetual Pursuit of the Right Side
For two seasons, Staios has made it clear: the right side of the blue line is a priority. It`s a fundamental aspect of modern hockey, influencing everything from efficient zone exits to potent power-play formations. The ability of a right-shot defenceman to make swift, accurate passes from their natural side to forwards breaking out of the zone is invaluable. Without it, plays often stall, transitions falter, and offensive opportunities dwindle, much to the exasperation of coaches and fans alike.
The Senators have seen firsthand the consequences of this positional imbalance. Left-shot defencemen, even talented ones like Jakob Chychrun, struggled when forced to play on their off-side, creating awkward angles and an inherent hesitation. While Nick Jensen provided a measure of stability after Chychrun`s departure, the team`s right side still lacked the dynamic puck movement and offensive punch required to truly compete at an elite level. With all due respect to the admirable efforts of Travis Hamonic and Nikolas Matinpalo, they weren`t the consistent top-six solution the team desperately sought.
Jordan Spence: The Analytical Darling with a Point to Prove
At 24 years old, Jordan Spence arrives in Ottawa with a reputation as an elite puck-moving defenceman, a player whose underlying numbers make the analytics community hum with approval. Last season, his presence on the ice for the Los Angeles Kings demonstrably improved their five-on-five expected goals rate. When Spence was playing, the Kings` expected goals rate soared to 2.59; without him, it dipped to 2.45. This isn`t just statistical noise; it’s a clear indication of his positive impact on offensive generation and defensive suppression, a true two-way influence that advanced metrics highlight.
Spence is not merely a statistical curiosity; he`s a tangible contributor. He tallied 28 points last season, including four goals. To put this in perspective, the entire Senators` right-shot defensive corps combined for only seven goals last year. The left side, spearheaded by Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, in comparison, amassed 20 goals. This glaring disparity underscores the critical need for offensive activation from the right, a void Spence is expressly tasked with filling.
“I’m not really focused on [the contract] at all, whatsoever. I think it just matters how I play this season.”
— Jordan Spence
Beyond the numbers, Spence brings a potent cocktail of talent and motivation. He`s a restricted free agent at the season`s end, providing an immediate incentive to perform. More profoundly, he`s driven to prove he can be a legitimate top-four defenceman, a role he struggled to consistently secure in a crowded Kings` blue line. “Obviously that`s always in the back of your head,” Spence remarked on the top-four role. “Just to try to be better as a player and to gain the coach’s trust to play more ice time. But at the end of the day, it’s the effort and the individual work that you put in.” It`s a refreshingly straightforward approach to a complex professional challenge.
The Weight of Expectation: A New Era or a Familiar Tune?
Of course, the tale of the undersized, offensive defenceman in Ottawa is a storied one. The city has witnessed the dazzling success of an Erik Karlsson, a wizard with the puck who defied conventional defensive archetypes and etched his name into franchise lore. It has also, more recently, seen the struggles of an Erik Brannstrom, another mobile, smaller blueliner who couldn`t quite translate his potential into consistent NHL impact. Spence, standing at five-foot-10, will undoubtedly face scrutiny regarding his physical game, but his offensive upside and analytical performance suggest a higher ceiling.
The Senators, who finished second to last in the NHL in five-on-five goals last season, are desperate for this offensive injection. The addition of Spence, combined with the eventual return of Nick Jensen from off-season hip surgery, will afford Head Coach Travis Green a newfound luxury of options on the back end. The projected pairings hint at a more balanced and dynamic defensive structure, offering flexibility that was noticeably absent last year:
- Sanderson – Zub
- Chabot – Jensen
- Kleven – Spence
This increased depth promises greater resilience against injuries and tactical versatility, something the Senators acutely lacked last season. The hope is that Spence will not just be an upgrade, but the catalyst that finally transforms a promising Senators squad into a consistent playoff contender. The right side has long been the missing piece; now, all eyes are on Spence to see if he can finally complete the puzzle, or if the search for the mythical right-shot defenceman will continue into another season. The puck drops soon enough, and the answers will follow.
