They had a legitimate shot.
Nashville provides a different challenge to the Senators, but if they could have handled Crosby and Malkin at centre, I'm pretty sure they could have managed well against anything that Nashville throws out down the middle.
Take a look at past Stanley cup winners and tell me if a team has won a cup with Nashville's state at center. I admire their team but Johansen was one injury that they just could not afford.
Unless the Penguins goaltending goes into Bernier mode, I just think the pens are poised to repeat. The Sens would have given the preds a real good run too.