Ottawa's D is the worst in The East next to Montreal and Toronto. They need a D in a huge way, they need Brian Campbell right now. They have no one to generate anything resembling offense off the back end, no threat what so ever.
Sens are not a playoff team with the defense they have now. They will be close but that's the difference right now. It's not the goaltending in Ottawa, it was Gerber last year, it's no Leclaire this year.
I would hold off on resigning A Train at this point because if The Sens miss the playoffs this year they are in a fullout rebuild. You will see Spezza, Fisher, Foligno, and Michalek here up front, Phillips and Carkner on the back end, those are the only garentees. Alfi is a Sen for life so no worries there.
Sens just dont have a top end team with that D.