How the Ottawa Senators stack up

The Ottawa Senators have had a quiet offseason, hoping to rely on their young players and historical run last season to carry them into the 2015-16 season. (Ottawa Sun Files)During the hottest days of the summer, it's natural to be concerned about ice -- mostly that there's enough in the freezer for drinks.

But this being the hockey-crazed market it is, the local NHL team is also often a topic of discussion -- over refreshments and not -- even seven weeks before the opening of training camp.

Every conversation regarding the Senators ultimately comes down to whether they'll be good enough to return to the playoffs in 2015-16, and whether they really are on a path that leads to another Stanley…