This team is the anti-early 2000's Sens teams. Back then we were always the favorites, and always failed.
We did a halfsie rebuild in 2010 that still left us with Alfie, Gonchar and Spezza as core players, which meant we made the playoffs in 2012 and 2013 under their leadership. 2013-14 was a rough transition year (with Spezza as captain).
But I'd say 2014-15 was the year our current core truly came into being. Spezza was gone. Karlsson was made captain. Stone, Hoffman and Ceci became regulars. Turris stepped up to the 1C role. We went on a historic phenomenal run at the end of the season to make the playoffs despite turbulent coaching (Maclean getting fired & Cameron not being much better). 2015-16 was an aberration due to bad coaching and an insane amount of injuries. Then, of course, this year, with the new coaching staff we made the playoffs despite injuries and leaves of absences. Then put a crazy run on the playoffs and pushed a dynasty-like team to a 2OT Game 7.
That's 2 of 3 years of this core group's existence that they've shown unbelievable veteran-like resilience and clutchiness. Something we've never experienced as Sens fans. The best part? Much of this core is young and just entering their prime. For comparison's sake, to put things in perspective, our only players that are older than Crosby (and Malkin) are:
-Bobby Ryan (only by a few months)
-Marc Methot
-Tom Pyatt
-Viktor Stalberg
-Clarke MacArthur
-Dion Phaneuf
-Craig Anderson
-Alex Burrows
Everybody also talks about us being lucky or fortunate. What's fortunate about us beating the Rangers? They were basically fully healthy. In the last 5 years, the Rangers made the SCF once, ECF twice, 2nd round once and 1st round once. They have more playoffs wins than the Penguins in the last 5 years. And we beat them fair and square.
We're a good team with a solid veteran-like young core entering their prime, and have a truly generational player. This was year 1 of our window opening. **** the non-believers.