It has been many years since the Ottawa Senators have felt confident in net. But after acquiring Linus Ullmark this off-season, Ottawa finally has a difference maker in net — one who should put Atlantic Division playoff contenders on notice.

The Senators have been mired in a painfully long rebuild since their run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016-17. It’s a rebuild that has spanned multiple coaching staffs, front offices, and even ownership groups — a hallmark sign of sustained underperformance.

The curious part about how long this rebuild has taken is that it differentiates from comparables around the league. We’ve seen failed (and extensively long) rebuilds many times over, but they are usually the result of front offices missing big in the draft and development cycle.

Ottawa has had their share of missteps, but the collection of young talent — and in most cases, young talent that’s now established at the NHL level — is........

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