Senators by the Numbers: #42

Denny Lambert L 1996-1997

Born in Wawa, Ontario in 1970, Lambert was undrafted after three seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He signed as a free agent with the expansion Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He joined the Sens as a free agent in July 1996. During his second season with the team he wore #28. After two seasons in the capital, he was claimed by Nashville in the 1998 Expansion Draft. He was the head coach of the Greyhounds for three seasons until 2011.

Derek Armstrong C 1997-1998

Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1973, Armstrong was drafted 128^th overall by the New York Islanders in 1992. Armstrong played for five NHL teams (wearing 10 different numbers) during his professional career but spent the majority of his playing time in the minors before becoming an NHL regular in his 30s with the Kings. He signed as a free agent with Ottawa during the summer of 1997 and left as a free agent the following year. He retired in 2010 and is currently the head coach of the Denver Cutthroats of the CHL.

Julien Vauclair D 2003-2004

Born in Delémont, Switzerland in 1979, Vauclair was drafted 74^th overall by the Ottawa Senators. He began his professional career with HC Lugano in Switzerland in 1998 before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL in 2001. Vauclair played just one career NHL game and after 3 seasons with the Senators minor-league affiliate he returned to Switzerland during the 2004-2005 lockout, rejoining HC Lugano. He has represented Switzerland internationally on several occasions and is currently still a member of HC Lugano.

Tomas Malec D 2005-2006

Born in Skalica, Czechoslovakia in 1982, Malec was drafted 64^th overall in 2001 by the Florida Panthers. He spent two seasons with the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL. Malec was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and made his NHL debut with the team. He was traded to Anaheim as part of the Hurricanes deal to acquire Martin Gerber. He joined the Sens for the 2005-06 season. He played parts of two seasons with the Sens, wearing #41 during his second year. He spent the majority of his time in the Senators organization with Binghamton. He was traded midway through the 2006-07 season to the New York Islanders for Matt Koalska. In 2007, he returned to the Czech Republic and joined HC Ocelari Trinec of the Czech Extraliga. He is currently a member of HC Kometa Brno.

Tom Preissing D 2006-2007

Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1978, Preissing was undrafted after two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. During his time with the Gamblers he switched to defense. After three successful seasons with Colorado College he was signed as a free agent by the San Jose Sharks in 2003. He made the team out of training camp and had a productive rookie campaign. Preissing had a breakout season in 2005-2006; he played 74 games, scoring 11 goals and 43 points. He was acquired by the Senators in July 2006, as part of a three-way trade between the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and the Sens. Preissing was sent to the Sens with Josh Hennessy and Chicago's second round pick in 2008 (Patrick Wiercioch) in exchange for Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski. Preissing spent one season with the Sens and signed a 4-year deal with the Kings in 2007. Illness and injury impacted his play with the Kings and he was traded to the Avalanche in 2009. His NHL career ended in 2010 and he has spent the last three seasons in Europe (KHL, Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland). He last played for HC TPS in Finland in 2012-2013.

Jim O'Brien C 2010-2011, 2011-2012

Born in Maplewood, Minnesota in 1989, O'Brien was drafted 29^th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2007. O'Brien played for the United States National Under-18 Team for two seasons before joining the University of Minnesota as a 17-year-old. After one year of university, he played two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. During his second full season with the Binghamton Senators, he made his NHL debut, playing 6 games with Ottawa in 2010-2011. He was returned to Bingo and was part of the team that won the Calder Cup in 2011. He split time between the NHL and the AHL in 2011-2012. However, his NHL play was good enough to earn a two-year contract extension from the Senators. O'Brien switched to #18 for the 2012-2013 season and started the 2013-2014 season in with Binghamton.

Best #42: Tom Preissing

Why not.

Worst #42: Jim O'Brien

The expectation created by his status as a first-round pick have not worked in his favour. O'Brien toiled in the minors before getting a chance with the big club where he was mostly unimpressive.

Who wore it best?