Senators Starting Camp With Questions

The first sniff of September gets the juices flowing once again for hockey.

It’s been a fact for decades.

But also a fact: it’s truly a great time for all pro sport fanatics – as we indicated, hockey camps opening mid-month; Major League Baseball winding down towards its post-season; and the National Football League getting rolling.

Also on tap this month? The always wildly entertaining Ryder Cup staged this year at Bethpage Black, the US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Queens, NY, and the push ahead for the CFL with playoff implications abounding.

But to hockey we go.

That’s why they pay this corner the big bucks.

And there is plenty to ponder on.

In Ottawa, the plot lines are many and with that in mind, there are big questions as well surrounding the local Senators. Here are just a few . . .

Can the Senators (more than) duplicate last year’s modest success?

Well hell, if you haven’t dipped your toe in the playoff hot tub for nearly a decade, last season was a breakthrough to be sure.

There is definitely room to move up (as detailed in this space a few weeks back) this upcoming season, but there is also a hovering cautionary tale; one that says, ‘let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.’ Expectations can be wonderful things; they can also tear you down and leave indelible markings.

The Senators are a good team, no doubt, but are they a great team?

The answer at this juncture is a firm ‘no.’ The great teams reside in Florida (duh), and Edmonton. You’d want to throw Dallas and Colorado into the stew too. With the add of 100-point man Mitch Marner, who’ll slot in on Jack Eichel’s wing to start, Vegas is right there.

As far as Canadian content, you have to admire what Winnipeg holds, and while they might not be considered at the top of the NHL pyramid, the Jets certainly have a leg up on Ottawa.

What IS interesting is that five of the six clubs mentioned above are situated in the league’s Western Conference. That means the Eastern Conference, outside of the champion Panthers, is kind of a crapshoot.

In a perfect world for Ottawa Fan, a spot in the east final or semi-final could be doable in 2025-26, and that would be positive movement.

If Linus Ullmark continues to prove fragile, is Leevi Merilainen capable of filling in?

Tough one there, kiddies.

Ullmark’s back troubles caused him to miss six weeks last go-round. But veteran Anton Forsberg was available and suited up for 30 games with mixed but durable results.

Forsberg was left to walk this summer and signed with LA.

Enter the unproven Merilainen. He had a splash of extraordinarily strong results in his 12 games with the big club (.925 save percentage). However (you knew that was coming), the 23-year-old former Kingston Frontenac was under zero pressure – or expectations – in 2024-25.

Maybe he morphs into the next Filip Gustavsson . . . or maybe Pascal Leclaire.

He’ll be counted on to produce.

Brady carries the team, but can Senator fans expect even more?

Come on.

Brady Tkachuk’s done about all he can for this organization on and off the ice.

He turns 26 this month. Bottom line is he’s at his peak. To expect Tkachuk to tip towards 40 or 50 goals at this point is pretty silly. He’ll likely, barring injury, clock in at 30-35 goals and lead the team (again) in the physicality department.

And here’s a bone to pick with team management – to have one of your best skaters continuously have to be the guy to protect the Tim Stutzle’s of the world is a joke. First off, Stutzle had better learn to stick up for himself or do what Auston Matthews and William Nylander do in Toronto effectively – just freaking walk away.

Secondly? Ottawa’s done a poor job of ‘protecting’ Brady from ruining his hands.

In recent years, they’ve brought in poor-performing enforcers like Zack MacEwen, Boko Imama and Austin Watson. Sadly, the days of Brian McGrattan are long gone.

In essence, Brady’s on his own island. Ottawa reportedly went after free agent Tanner Jeannot, who eventually signed with Boston. Ironically, Jeannot will be targeting Brady every time the B’s face Ottawa.

Admittedly, Tkachuk likes to rumble. That’s fine but keep that in mind if he goes out and breaks his hand this season.

Is the defence expected to elevate in 2026, or just about where it was in 2025?

Two years ago, Ottawa’s defence was a nightmare. Couldn’t get the puck out of their zone with consistency, turned the biscuit over too many times and frankly were prone to dumb mistakes.

Last year under Travis Green the team turned it around.

Surprisingly, the biggest factor was the addition of Nick Jensen (brought over from Washington in the Jakob Chychrun deal). He was definitely an under-the-radar acquisition, but a particularly good one.

The Senators did more this off-season to improving their lot on the blueline. Small but slick Jordan Spence was hauled in from LA for a pair of picks. He’ll help with the transition game.

Meantime in Jensen’s absence (off-season surgery has him on the sidelines for the season’s start), the door swings open for 2024 seventh-overall pick Carter Yakemchuk. He might require time in Belleville but remember that the kid nearly made the big team last fall.

Tyler Kleven’s rise was rapid during the second half of 2025. Expectations are he’ll be even more of a fixture this season.

Ottawa’s D used to be the laughingstock of the east. Not so much anymore. The unit should see improvements.

How much is left in the tank for vets Giroux, Zub, Jensen and Perron?

This will bear monitoring.

Claude Giroux was a step slower last season but still remains an important part of this club. As a plus, he also likes playing in Ottawa. That counts.

Artem Zub turns 30 in less than a month and while that’s not necessarily ‘old’ by NHL standards, there are plenty of miles on his tires.

Jensen is coming off hip surgery and hits the 35 mark later this month while David Perron enters this year at age 37.

All four are considered valuable (to different degrees) and a condensed schedule thanks to the Winter Olympics will be taxing.

thegrossgame@yahoo.com

Photo: Courtesy Yahoo Sports