Marc Methot Belongs with the Ottawa Senators in the Long Term

Yesterday’s 7-2 drubbing of the Arizona Coyotes gave the Ottawa Senators lots to build off. Not only did it show the upside of the Senators’ game, but it also let the spotlight shine on returning defenseman Marc Methot. 

The Ottawa native is coming off a lengthy stretch on the injured reserve and had his biggest game since being inserted into the lineup. He had three assists and was awarded the game's first star.

Additionally, Methot’s game away from the net attracted all kinds of attention as he launched Arizona’s Lucas Lessio with one of his trademark hip checks. The check flipped Lessio and was impressive enough to be covered by Deadspin.

Methot’s leadership has not been seen very often this season, mainly due to his time off. However, as a result, his name has come up in trade talks as of late.

The Ottawa Citizen reported last week that his name has been an active proponent of Senators trade talks.

What critics fail to realize is the gem that is currently under their nose and how essential Methot is to the Senators.

Extraordinary plus-minus numbers have proved Methot’s strong defensive ability in his career. Usually coming on non-playoff teams, these numbers have flown under the radar through his career.

In his first full NHL season, Methot put up impressive numbers.

While the 2008-09 Columbus Blue Jackets did make the playoffs, it was Methot’s play as a supplemental defensive player that helped the Jackets get there. He put up 17 points primarily as a shutdown man while posting a plus-seven rating. 

With the Senators, Methot has never finished a season as a minus player.

This includes the 2013-14 campaign, where Senators fans began to question his ability as a reliable player in the long term. Methot’s plus-one rating was the second best among defensemen on the team.

He ranked second among Senators for time on ice that season and still posted positive numbers on a team that allowed many more goals than they scored. This includes Erik Karlsson’s minus-16.

While Methot continues to post respectable numbers, the pundits continue to critique his play, and trade rumours surface.

SenShot’s Charlie Arsenault has an opinion that most Senators fans are guilty of:

"

While I was on the “trade Methot” train up until recently, my opinion has changed dramatically. They say you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it, but in this case I didn’t appreciate what the team had until they got it. If you ask me, the team should sign Methot ASAP. Of course this is only if he stops asking for “Brooks Orpik money” (that term is nearly as bad as when Karlsson was getting an extension and the term “Dennis Wideman money” was a thing).

"

What exactly is Brooks Orpik money?

Orpik was signed by the Washington Capitals this past offseason at five years, $27.5 million. While this is a hefty price tag for the Capitals defenseman, I think it’s apparent that Methot is in a much better position than Orpik was when he was in line for a new deal.

At 29 years old, Methot’s best years are ahead of him. Since his return to the lineup this season, we have seen the game of Karlsson pick up, as The Hockey Writers’ Callum Fraser analyzes.

Fraser’s article shows that the Senators average 3.39 goals for and 1.45 goals against when Methot and Karlsson are on the ice. These numbers show that not only is Methot worthy of a No. 2 defense slot, but that “Brooks Orpik money” isn’t too much of a stretch.

Methot’s essential place as Karlsson’s defense partner shows that he is an essential piece in the Senators’ jigsaw to success. General manager Bryan Murray, or his successor, would be wise to lock him up.