If you're here because you're a Sens fan, I (Will, voice in the video, hi!) would appreciate you taking a second to contribute if you can to the Silver Seven gofundme. This video wouldn't have been possible without Nate over at Silver Seven, not to mention all of the countless pieces the team there wrote over the years, and now they need help to keep doing what they do so well: gofund.me/d6a4b57c

Erik Karlsson’s peak was absolutely ridiculous, dude carried the Sens on one leg

As someone who isn’t a traditional hockey fan, it’s always fun for me to learn more about teams that came close to winning it all but unfortunately collapsed.

This video is going to hurt, but it’s an important part of hockey history. I’ll never forget the short lived glory of the 1-3-1

Always happy to see Hockey content in this channel.

My high school math teacher was a die-hard sens fanatic. When Karlsson got traded, she made good on her promise to wear black for a week in mourning. It was a dark time to be a sens fan. Today is finally a time for optimism, and I'm showing my support by going to the sens game tonight

This team has to be one of the most underrated teams in the last decade. No one, and I mean, no one saw them beating Boston and the Rangers and then taking the Pens to a 7th game and then falling off the face of a cliff. Now they’re younger and I think they have a great chance to make the playoffs again

Knowing that Craig Anderson was playing with his wife on his heart, fighting breast cancer, made this all the more gut wrenching.

For anyone that has ever doubted the effect that Melnyk had on the franchise, just look at the moves and news since he’s passed. -Alfredsson is back around the team after spending years away due to Melnyk. -Neil and Philips have roles in the organization now -Plans for a new downtown arena are underway -Signed 2 young stars, Norris and Stützle, to longterm deals -Signed Giroux, local guy and productive vet -Traded for DeBrincat, one of the best goal scorers in the league

Really good video lads. Only thing I'd like to call out as a sens fan is just how heartbreaking the Stone trade was for sens fans. He was the heart and soul of the group, young enough to take us through the rebuild into a new era as the captain & face of the franchise. His two way game is one of the best in the league and very few wingers impacted the game like he did for us. Karlsson was the franchise during his time here but Stone was the next after him. The gutwrenching feeling of losing him as well might have hurt more just given how quick in succession the move was made and how much he meant to Ottawa on and off the ice, mentoring the young kids (Tkachuk specifically) and his work in the community.

The reason for the Downfall: Eugene Melnyk. That man held them back from sustained contention for years.

Love the video because it’s about my Sens but there were several things you missed. 1.)The reason for the low attendance and the Melnyk hate was in 2015-2018, Ottawa was planning to build a new Arena downtown at Lebreton Flats there was a promising proposal by one of the development groups but Melnyk wanted to own the building so got the city of Ottawa basically give him the proposal which they ended up rewarding it to him. Then he turns around and told the city I don’t have enough money can you guys help me pay for this? Not part of the bill, the entire bill… The answer was no and was why the new arena ended up dead at the time… and that’s why #MelnykOut became a thing. 2.) Melnyk’s weird debt, from not being able to pay his yacht crew, private jet pilots and gambling debts was another reason why #MelnykOut was gaining traction 3.) Randy Lee harassment charges were sexual harassment. He made unwanted sexual advance towards a 19 year hotel employee…

I can't believe there's no mention of McArthur's return which was a HUGE boost in point production and morale for the run.

It has to be said that out of all the collapses, this one is probably the most painful.

Been a diehard Sens fan since the late 90's. Great job on this video! Those were some dark times, but the future is bright and excited to see what's next! GO SENS GO!

We NEED that "History of the San Jose Sharks" video like y'all did with the Seattle Mariners.

I remember that game 7. My brain had finally had enough of studying for my ochem final (even though I was no where near ready) and I had my sens jersey on the whole time, I stopped and sat down for the 2nd period. I remember FREAKING out when pager scored the tying goal. Gotta be one of the best memories as a sens fan. Well they went on to lose and I failed my chem final LOL

Possible Future Episode Ideas - Green Bay Packers collapse after Vince Lombardi won his final Super Bowl as head coach in 1967 and didn't win another Super Bowl until the Holmgren Era in 1996. - The Washington Commanders have been one long gigantic collapse since their Super Bowl season in 1991. - Blue Jays collapse after back-to-back World Series Titles in 1992 and 1993 - Steelers collapse after 4th Super Bowl of the decade in 1979 until a Super Bowl in 2005 - Miami Hurricanes Football collapse after their 2001 BCS Championship Season and haven't recovered since then. - Buffalo Bills collapse after 4 straight Super Bowl appearances from 1990-1993 which culminated in the Music City Miracle in 1999. - After their 1985 Super Bowl Season, the Chicago Bears have been a collapse waiting to happen. - Alabama Football collapse after their 1992 National Championship Season under Gene Stallings until Nick Saban arrived in 2007. - The Yankees collapse after winning back-to-back World Series Titles in 1977 and 1978 and didn't return to prominence until the mid 1990s with a World Series title in 1996 - Broncos collapse after back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998 until a Super Bowl in 2015.

Incredible video detailing the history of a team I remember I thought was gonna be a cup contender for a few years. It’s nice to see what the team has now after a tough up and down history. I think J.G. Pageau going to the isles should’ve gotten a mention as he was apart of that core and helped dominate the rangers during that run. But regardless, a great video. Hope to see a bright future for Ottawa as an isles fan

You ought to do a Ducks collapse video too. The team that had a Star nucleus but couldn’t get over the hump, then watched its players win rings on other teams

Future Hockey Collapses: 1993-94 & 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks 1996-97 & 2009-10 Philadelphia Flyers 1998-99 Dallas Stars 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche 1989-90 & 2010-11 Boston Bruins 2003-04 Calgary Flames 1993-94 & 2013-14 New York Rangers 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes 1998-99 & 2009-10 Buffalo Sabres 2015-16 San Jose Sharks

I've been asking for this for a while, and it didn't disappoint. Even as a Leafs/Ducks fan who grew up hating the Senators, I'm happy that their roster is finally starting to take shape after a long and painful rebuild. That fanbase deserves some light at the end of the tunnel

I remember karlson's play during those playoffs. Everything he did turned into gold. He played the best hockey I've ever seen

5 years on and that Kunitz goal is still impossible to watch as a Sens fan, great video!

"Melnyj passed away in 2022" Always love a happy ending

That crew was very good. The Senators are one of those teams that has had the team to win the Cup a few times but always ran into the eventual winner. I still say the 2003 team was one of the best teams ever to not win the Cup. They just ran into that Devils core's last hurrah.

As a lifelong Sens fan, I've been waiting a long time for this. It's been a rough go.

Having these guys as my #2 team is kinda tough. However, with my islanders having their own game 7 ECF heartbreak and on the downswing, I can root for the bright future that the Sens have.

Will, you're a darling, and I love it when you turn out the Hockey content for us here at the Secret Base. The vid does a great job of showing the quick tumble that the Sens had and only now might be recovering from.

As a Sens fan I immediately clicked on this video. The 2017 playoff run was fantastic to watch and follow along and created many great memories for fans. The hype and success only to fall apart the following year resulting in five years of pain. No one should ever speak ill will of a person who passed but Melnyk is a major part in this collapse. I often would say Melnyk was a reincarnation of Harold Ballard and he was the elephant in the locker room to people asking me why I am a Sens. Thankfully, the operations have been far better since the summer of 2022 and promising for the regular season.

We Sens fans have been waiting for this for a long time. Right to tear down and rebuild has been a masterpiece. Sens are back!

Kunitz’s game 7 double OT walk-off knuckler is the most emotion I have ever felt during my time as a pens fan. The direction Pittsburgh is going right now honestly scares me as I can see us pulling a Detroit and delaying our rebuild for too long. I only pray I needn’t watch a “Pittsburgh Penguins Collapse” in the coming years

I'm in Ottawa. Melnyks influence cannot be overstated. He alienated the fans, the players, corporate sponsors, partners, even the Senators own charity. The last decade here has been horrible.

Somehow, this isn't the most hurtful thing to happen to the Senators. I'm old enough to remember watching them job out to the Leafs every year in the playoffs, and then the 02-03 season that watched them win the President's Trophy only to lose to the Devils with one of the most pathetic defensive efforts I've ever seen (Wade Redden literally watched the puck go right by him, ugh). Watching them lose to the Penguins and then their whole roster falling apart was just another Tuesday as far as this franchise goes.

Always thought this team would be a great subject for this series but never thought it would happen. The depth and detail of this piece is incredible. Well done!

This series needs to comeback, and you need to make a video on the fall of the Patriots Dynasty PLEASE, this is coming from a Patriots fan.

5:32 - “Dion Phaneuf’s Bloated Contract” I still cannot to this day believe Ottawa was willing to take that contract off us. - Leafs fan

You know what... I'm proud of what the Sens did... The fact that we scared the hell out of the potential Stanley Cup champs. That's saying something about how strong the team was...

Been waiting a WHILE for this one. Thank you so much for delivering!!!

Great video! Really highlights the complete calamity that was this franchise in the backend of Melnyk's life. FINALLY, this year things are positive again. And (in my obviously biased opinion) the Sens won the Karlsson trade with Norris & Stutzle elite forwards expected to lead the team and a couple of high(ish) end prospects still coming up. Keep up the great work!!

An interesting note: Brassard is back on the team now, signed after being on a PTO

Excellent video, with one caveat: Chris Wideman was held accountable for the Uber incident, in a way. He was traded from the team a few weeks later, and told The Athletic that he was made the fall guy for the incident internally.

Never would of thought the sens would of been a video ! Love it ! I always said the day that we got Duchene was the turning point. It’s true a lot of people in Ottawa hate Melnyk and the last years were awful to a point I stopped watching my fav team but now I’m more hopeful :)

After you hurt me so badly with the 4-1 game and not even mentioning the Leafs trading Rask for Raycroft, this is exactly the video that I need. Time to watch.

As a pens fan, that ECF game 7 double OT goal by Kunitz is my favorite moment in the franchise. The absolute make or break relief made me jump for joy

Great to see another collapse video and some hockey content, especially this and the Alec Martinez goal. As a kings fan, thank you for that.

I love the use of the word "draw" in reference to not merely a bath, but a _blood_ bath, at 4:33 "... a bloodbath, drawn by Melnyk... " I've heard the phrase "draw a bath," but never thought of a bloodbath as something that, conceptually, would be drawn. But, one can also draw "first blood" (with extra points, if achieved within one's withdrawing room), which has me wondering if there's actually an etymological through-line here... Awesome video as always, Will!

Love these videos. Could we get a 2011 Canucks version of this? Would be sick

I don't even watch hockey and still enjoyed this video. you guys are excellent at these

Great watch!! I loved that 2017 team. Lots of interesting details I didn't know about!

Huge shoutout to SB for pushing out a sens video, never thought I'd see a video about my favorite team!

I've been waiting for this for years

these are incredible, love it!!!

Was one of the view outside of the market that was so excited to watch this team in those 2017 playoffs. Truly one of the most special hockey teams I’ve ever watched, despite all the claims of them being boring to watch

Solid. Thank You for making this. 🔥🔥🔥

Phenomenal video man. Well done

Have you done the 2021 Montreal Canadien's unthinkable run to the cup? My oldest hockey memories as a toddler are the 1986 Canadien's cup, and I remember well the 1993 cup win. But my team were the 1990s Red Wings. From the 1991 Score cards to this day! Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman. AND Dominik Hasek! Couldn't believe we got Hasek on the team at some point! Like How the Habs got Correy Perry for their epic run. 'Member the draft of Correy Perry and the pool we did that year. Never imagined he'd be ther eand that Arturi Lekonene would become the legend he is now, one year later, and 2 series winning goals later (a cup winning one to boot!)

Love the video. It demonstrates so well the feelings I've been carrying with me for years, as a diehard Sens fan. With respect, it's really a shame that the death of the owner was the solution to this team's success. RIP.

I’ve been waiting for this video!!!

RIP Eugene Melnyk and Bryan Murray. Great video.

As a Pens fan let me say how special that OTT team was. I had held an abnormal disdain for OTT (a non-division foe the Pens traditionally beat) ever since my 1st experience w/Pens playoff hockey was OTT eliminating them 4-1 in the 1st round in '07. Going into the series in '17, many folks, myself included expected OTT to lose in 5 if not get swept. Despite being a decade since they eliminated us & PIT having swept OTT in '08 & eliminated them 4-1 in '12; grudge lingering, I really wanted that sweep...old habits die hard. OTT took game 1 and as the series went on you couldn't help but like this team, from their scrappy play, to Anderson's playing like he rarely had before inspite of his wife's battle w/cancer, to Clarke McArthur coming back from extremely prolonged concussion issues thought likely to have ended his career, to Bobby Ryan shining after such scrutiny having been drafted the pick after Crosby, to Karlsson playing to a level of which all were forced to accept him as the 2nd best player in the world while playing with a serious injury, I was overjoyed & relieved when Kunitz scored in OT in game 7 but when the camera cut to that shot of Anderson in stunned resignation w/I believe Stone & Karlsson, that was really hard to watch. It took a lot of joy out of that moment b/c there would be no storybook ending for this team very much deserving of it. Watching this collapse in real time was sad too. 2 things that went missed in this video is that Clarke McArthur (was went unmentioned) received another concussion, this one ending his career, I believe that was in training camp of '17-'18. The other being Karlsson's never been the same player, he's still a great player but experienced a premature & serious decline largely due to the impact of foot injuries on his skating, arguably of which can be traced back to this run in which he went 'God Mode' despite a broken foot. I'll leave this with something to make it a little easier to swallow. In the handshake line following the game the respective Captains met, with Karlsson ever so briefly stopping Crosby, patting him on the chest & telling him "go get another one." Who does that? What unbelievable class. I've loved Erik Karlsson ever since that series.

one of the best youtube channels out there no doubt.

To be honest, I hope the Sens do well with Melnyk gone. He was limiting the team and as a certain sports KZfaqr said, "Dorian can now play the forbidden songs on the jukebox." We believe in you, Ottawa!

The hockey ones are definitely my favorite ones. You could do collapses on a couple of franchise that came close like Vancouver in 2011 or the San Jose Sharks in 2016. But I would recommend looking into the 2005-06 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, who then proceeded to miss the playoffs 11 of the next 12 years.

Crazy how dark it was being a fan of this team 3-5 years But, all this happened. IN A SPAN OF THREE MONTHS: - New downtown arena in the works ensures that the team stays in Ottawa - Alfredsson, the Sens goat, gets inducted into the HHOF by creating a campaign that got support from the team (which was nonexistent in over 7 years) - Traded for Debrincat for not much - Signed Claude Giroux, a new fan favourite - Made the Talbot trade for better stability in net - Got rid of all the plugs not doing much (Tierney, Del Zotto, White, Murray, etc.) - Signed Motte and other solid depth pieces - Signed Josh Norris to a long-term contract - Signed Stutzle to a long-term contract - Alumni are back with roles in the organization (Redden, Phillips, Neil, Alfredsson soon hopefully) - Team has been not only listening but implementing feedback from players (upgraded facility, private chefs, etc.) - Sens Community foundation is back up and running after it was defunded - Season ticket sales went up by 60% Its crazy how much of a 180 the sens did after the 2017 playoff run, but even more impressive how they did a 180 in the positive way in a much shorter amount of time. It's been a long time coming for us Sens fans

I'm a Pens fan and I can't help but feel sad after that goal in 2OT. They look like they might be on the come-up soon, though.

Another great video and I would like to point out that when broussard was traded away from the rangers for Mika I was sad but 5 years later with hindsight it was for the best. And I've been familiar with the Mike Hoffman situation due to urinating tree doing a video on Ottawa and which he summed up the situatiion by saying that Hoffman was a cancer by proxy. And I knew Erik wanted out regardless but I think that situation really solidified it

Love when you guys cover hockey!!!

One of the things that always hurt was how many of the Senators left to captain or become great players in other organizations. It is Mind boggling All at the hands of Melnyk.

Ty for this. Hoping for one about the 2006/7 cup final.

I have been a lifelong Oilers fan and that was a magical spring to watch, beyond the Oilers making the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, it was really hard not to route for Ottawa, a super likable group who played some fantastic hockey behind Erik Karlsson that spring. I was surprised that there was literally no mention of J.G Pageau, he was a big piece that was let go for that rebuild too, I will always remember watching that four goal game he scored that post-season. I definitely hope they are on the upswing now. I think I am ready though, a Collapse episode NEEDS to be done on the 2006 Oilers going from Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, to four #1 overall picks between 2010 and 2015 and missing the playoffs for 10 full seasons following that run. Truly one of the more dramatic and atrocious organizational collapses in the history of hockey.

love love love when you guys do hockey tysm

this was well done, good job

Yo always hyped for hockey content! Another cool hockey video could be a rewinder of "off the floor and on the board" for Paul Kariya!

Was hoping this would eventually happen but figured it was a pipe dream until now. Thank you.

Thank you for this, from a Sens fan I can finally close the book on this chapter

Great video. I can't believe that people were using the arena's location as an excuse not to go to the game when it didn't matter at all when the team was doing well. Thank God we are finally coming out of that funk!

Being a fan of the Sens it's nice to see the spotlight on them at all. Being in Canada and not a top tier team makes them second page to alot of other teams with larger fan bases, coverage, etc. It was cool to see it all put together, because living through it was too depressing to think critically at the time 😂😭

Untitled and Collapse always great keep them coming

Great summary. Missed the one tidbit of Melnyk threatening relocation on the eve of the outdoor game vs Montreal. Issues with the team aside, it was yet another example of Melnyk's ego. The day before the Senators were set to be the focus of the NHL by hosting an outdoor game, the man goes in front of a camera and not so subtly states that if attendance doesnt improve, the team may look elsewhere.

Just in addition to all this, I feel like it has to be said, Pierre Dorian has done a fantastic job, both doing his best to steady the ship while his hands were tied by Eugene during the collapse era, and his job in rebuilding the franchise since. The Sens are absolutely stacked with young talent both up front and on D, they seem like they’re just a good young goalie away really. I don’t know what’s going on with the ownership of the club, now that Melnyk has passed, but I feel like Dorian should be getting at least a few shares with his performance and dedication to that organization over the last decade or so.

I've been waiting for this

love this piece

Amazing as usual!!!!!

Despite all of this, the Sens have been going into the right direction. With picking up Claude Giroux and DeBrincat, this team has looked the most competitive since the 2017 cup run

Can't wait to watch one of these videos about the 2020-2021 New York Islanders in about 5 years.

Now they got Jimmy Stu leading the way and other prospects to help this team. This team is now looking like a fun team to watch with this new youth run

Awesome hockey video and keep it up! I personally would've added Jean Gabriel Pageau to the Sens core at the start.

And now the team might be going up for sale soon. RIP Melnyk, but with the great moves the team this off season and new progress on the downtown arena, imagining what actual good ownership could do is exciting!

Man, and you didn't even bring up the "we're a team" moment? Wow. As a Sens Fan, this video brings back a lot of pain. But the future looks fun!

The Oduya/Hjalmarsson Defensive pairing was👌👌👌

as a bruins fan, hockey yay

As an Ottawa fan I don't know why but this collapse hurt so much more then when the sens lost in the cup finals

Prime Erik Karlsson was one of the best defensemen ever. He almost dragged Ottawa to the Stanley Cup finals with only one leg. When scoring overall in the league was down he still came up with a 80+ point season and multiple 70+ point seasons. I'm from Finland and we have a long lasting rivalry with Sweden in pretty much everything sports related and Karlsson is still one of my favourite players ever despite of being a swede. Such a favourite I used 'big money' to get his official Sens jersey. I knew I would need to explain myself many times when wearing it in our own outdoor hockey games but I did not care. Erik Karlsson was and is the name that brought memories from my childhood and of the first names I watched when I started to watch nhl hockey. My first favourite goalie was Patrick Roy. My first favourite forward was Teemu Selänne. And my first favourite defenseman was Ray Bourque. You can guess of whom Erik Karlsson reminded me of and why I wanted his jersey.

Damn i was a die hard sens fan from 2007-17, the loss hurt so much i haven’t seriously watched them since. Love the young team we got now tho

wooooow one of my favorite youtube channels doing a vid on my FAVORITE team!!!!!

Love the hockey content, would love to see more!

whoa! didn't expect this one. but the Senators collapsing after that one-timer was crazy

And once Melnyk died, the Sens became buyer again in free agency and on the trade market. And they once again have a bright future.

As a Senators fan this was really well done, so glad our team is finally looking up again.