Senators by the Numbers: #16

Laurie Boschman C 1992-1993

Born in Major, Saskatchewan in 1960, Boschman was drafted 9^th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1979. A star with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, his time in Toronto was less successful, as Leafs owner Harold Ballard frequently ridiculed Boschman publically for his play and his faith. Traded to Edmonton in 1982, he spent just one season in Alberta before joining the Winnipeg Jets. It was with the Jets that Boschman fulfilled his offensive promise while maintaining his physical play. Claimed by the Sens from the New Jersey Devils in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, Laurie served as the Sens' first captain during Ottawa's inaugural season. The club's first season was also Boschman's last and he retired at the end of the year. He had a brief comeback in the United Kingdom in 1994 as a member of the Fife Flyers. Despite Ballard's claims that Boschman's Christianity made him soft, Laurie sits 35^th all-time in career NHL PIMs with 2265 minutes. In fact, he is one of only 16 NHLers to score over 500 career points and accumulate over 2000 career PIMs. The former Sens captain, who played his 1000 NHL game in Ottawa, now works with Hockey Ministries International, the same organization Mike Fisher is involved with.

Brad Lauer RW 1993-1994

Born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan in 1966, Lauer was drafted 34^th overall by the New York Islanders in 1985. Lauer played for four teams during his NHL career, but a significant knee injury hampered his development. From 1991-92 to 1995-96 he never played more than 30 games in the NHL in one season and spent the majority of that time in the AHL and IHL. He continued to play in the IHL until 2000-01 before joining the Sheffield Steelers in England for one season. Lauer returned to the Sens in 2009, as an assistant coach under Cory Clouston, but was let go at the end of the 2010-11 season. Lauer is currently a coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

Dave McLlwain C 1995-1996

Born in Seaforth, Ontario in 1967, McLlwain was drafted 172^nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1986. He took part in the "Punch-up in Piestany" brawl during the 1987 World Juniors as a member of Team Canada. He shares a record with Dennis O'Brien as the only players to have played for four teams in one season. McLlwain achieved this feat when he played for the Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs in 1991-92. He spent three years in Ottawa and wore #16 during his final season with the club, playing just one game before being traded to Pittsburgh. McLlwain's NHL career ended in 1997 and he continued playing in Europe: playing one season with EV Landshut in the DEL, two seasons with SC Bern in the Swiss league, and then the final nine seasons of the his career with Kolner Haie in Germany, retiring in 2009 at age 42.

Sergei Zholtok C 1996-1997, 1997-1998

Zholtok was born Riga, Latvian SSR in 1972 and was drafted 55^th overall in 1992 by the Boston Bruins. Zholtok played for 6 teams in a 10-year NHL career. During his lengthy international career he represented the Soviet Union, CIS (the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics, a joint team comprised of 6 of the 15 former Soviet republics) and Latvia. After a few seasons in the minors, Zholtok signed with the Senators in July, 1996 and played two seasons with Ottawa. A member of the Nashville Predators during the 2004-05 lockout, Zholtok returned to Riga to play with HK Riga 2000. During a game on November 3, 2004, Zholtok, who had cardiac arrhythmia, left late in the game and joined teammate Darby Hendrickson in the dressing room. Tragically, while in the dressing room, Zholtok collapsed and died.

Steve Martins C 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2001-2002

Born in Gatineau in 1972, Martins was taken by the Hartford Whalers in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft. A successful player at Harvard University, he spent time in 5 NHL organizations over the course of his career while primarily playing in the minors. Martins signed with the Sens on three separate occasions and wore the #16 during his first stint with the team.

Petr Schastlivy LW 2000-2001

Schastlivy's second of four appearances in this series, Schastlivy wore #16 during his second season with the Sens. Schastlivy is currently plying his trade in the KHL.

Mike Sillinger C 2000-2001

Born in Regina in 1971, Sillinger was drafted 11^th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1989. Sillinger was perhaps one of the most successful NHL journeymen and played for 17 seasons. He played for 12 teams during his career and was traded 9 times - both NHL records. Sillinger stopped in Ottawa in the middle of an NHL tour which included stops in Detroit, Anaheim, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Florida, Columbus, Phoenix, St. Louis, Nashville, and New York (Islanders). Since his retirement in 2009, Sillinger has served as the Director of Player Development for the Edmonton Oilers.

Jody Hull LW 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004

Born in Petrolia, Ontario in 1969, Hull was drafted 18^th overall by the Hartford Whalers in 1987. He was a member of the club during Ottawa's inaugural season. He had two stints in the capital, and wore #16 during his second tenure in Ottawa. 2003-04 was his last season in the NHL and Hull joined his junior team, the Peterborough Petes, as an assistant coach from 2005-2008. In 2010 he returned to the Petes in his former role.

Brian McGrattan RW 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008

Born in Hamilton in 1981, McGrattan was drafted 104^th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 1999 but never played for the club. He played for six OHL teams during his junior career before he was signed by the Sens as a free agent in 2003. During the 2004-05 lockout McGrattan's reputation as an enforcer reached new heights as he set a record for penalty minutes in a single season (551) with Binghamton. Often a healthy scratch during his time in Ottawa, he was traded in 2008 to the Phoenix Coyotes for a 5^th round draft pick the following season. McGrattan played only five games with the Coyotes before voluntarily entering the NHLPA's Substance Abuse and Behavioural Health Program. Claimed off waivers by Nashville in 2011, McGrattan re-signed with the Predators in July, 2012.

Bobby Butler RW 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012

Born in Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1987, Butler was an undrafted, college free agent when he signed with the Senators in March, 2010. Butler had four successful seasons at the University of New Hampshire and was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award in his final year. Despite the anticipation surrounding his arrival, Butler's 2011-12 season was underwhelming and he was bought out by the Senators in July, 2012. On August 9, 2012 Butler signed a two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils.

Best #16: Laurie Boschman

First captain. My avatar. In an admittedly weak field, that's enough.

Worst #16: Steve Martins

While there are several candidates (Lauer, McLlwain, Schastlivy, and Hull) Martins takes the nomination. Martins hardly made a mark during his first two times with the Sens while wearing #16 and yet his 9 points in three seasons was enough for the Sens to bring him back for again.

The best #16 is?