Why Ottawa Senators Fans Should Feel Optimistic About the Team’s Future

While the sting of an early playoff exit might still be lingering for Ottawa Senators fans, they can rest assured that the future looks extremely bright for this proud organization. 

Over the years, Ottawa has rebuilt its team with talented high draft picks such as defenceman Jake Sanderson and dynamic forwards Tim Stutzle and captain Brady Tkachuk, to name a few. Management has also made some shrewd moves, including trading for high-end talent such as former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark and forward Dylan Cozens.

An encouraging sign for Ottawa management and fans alike is that over the past couple of springs, this team has done something not accomplished in many years: qualify for the playoffs. 

Following a deep 2017 playoff run, which eventually saw the Senators eliminated in a seventh and deciding Game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they would go on to experience heartbreak which lasted until the 2025 playoffs.

That year, following a solid 97-point season, Ottawa captured a wild-card spot before eventually getting swept in the Eastern Conference best-of-7 opening-round series by their Ontario rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Unfortunately for Ottawa fans and the organization, this past spring, they couldn’t take that next step as the Senators, after a 99-point season, clinched another Eastern Conference wild card spot before this time around getting swept in opening-round action by the Carolina Hurricanes.  

A look through NHL Playoff history shows that various teams suffered years of playoff disappointments before finally becoming successful and enjoying long playoff runs, and in some cases winning the Stanley Cup.    

One of the many examples is the early 1980’s New York Islanders, who endured many tough springs of playoff disappointments before learning how to win and, starting in 1980, winning four straight Stanley Cups. 

While the Islanders were winning Stanley Cups, another young, talented and hungry team emerged on the scene in the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers, who absorbed their share of playoff disappointment before starting in 1984, winning five Stanley Cups in six years.   

More than 10 years later, the Detroit Red Wings served as another example as they ended years of post-season frustration by achieving the ultimate goal when they broke their 42-year drought in style by winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and again in ’98.

These are obviously just some of the many teams that, over the years, have come back to experience Stanley Cup glory after years of playoff disappointment. 

Realistically, the Senators are still several pieces away from being a Stanley Cup contender.   

No one is saying they will win in the next few years, but one thing is certain: with prospects such as 19-year-old defenceman Logan Hensler and 20-year-old defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, along with goaltender Leevi Merilainen, the future looks extremely promising in the nation’s capital.  

Goaltending

Senators management made a solid move when, on June 24, 2024, they strengthened their goaltending by making a multi-player deal with the Boston Bruins that landed 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Ullmark in Ottawa. 

Ullmark, 32, missed some time this past year and appeared in just 49 regular-season games, posting a 28-12-8 record with three shutouts and a 2.73 GAA.

Two years ago, in his first season with the Senators, Ullmark went 25-14-3 with 4 shutouts, a 2.72 GAA and a .909 save percentage.  

Originally drafted in 2012, 163rd overall by the Buffalo Sabres, Ullmark has played for the Sabres, Bruins and, of course, the Senators in his stellar 10-year career. He has an impressive 191-99 record with 15 shutouts, along with a career 2.57 GAA and .914 save percentage. 

Before kicking off Ullmark’s first season with Ottawa, he showed just how much he wanted to be with the Senators by agreeing with management to a four-year, $33 million extension.  

“When you get to this part of your career, you really want to emphasize what’s best for your family. And we felt that ever since we came here, it’s been a great fit,” Ullmark said. “I’m hoping this can help change things for the better in this organization and for this city.” 

The big question heading into training camp will be whether Merilaainen can successfully grab the backup job. Drafted by the Senators 71st overall in 2020, this 6’2”, 196-pound prospect played this past season in 20 games with the Senators, where he went 8-10-1 with a 3.51 GAA. He also played 19 games with the Sens AHL’s Belleville Senators, posting an 8-8-1 record with a solid 2.77 GAA.  

Defence

The Senators’ defence is led by an emerging star, Jake Sanderson, 23, who is coming off a 54-point campaign along with a career-best plus/minus of +16. 

Sanderson, who just completed his fourth season and helped Team USA win Olympic Gold, finished 10th in Norris Trophy voting. Chances are, this puck-moving elite skater, who excels at anchoring the power-play, will be a serious Norris Trophy candidate for years to come.

Drafted in 2020, 5th overall by Ottawa, Sanderson has now scored 50 or more points in consecutive seasons and has improved defensively from a -14 a couple of seasons ago to a career-best +16 this past season.

Averaging approximately 23-25 minutes per game, Sanderson has also excelled on the penalty killing unit and made the right plays in critical situations.

In the future, Sanderson will be that kind of elite quarterback-defenceman that every team needs if they are to be successful.   

Meanwhile, Ottawa’s defence also features the savvy of eight-year veteran Thomas Chabot, who is coming off a solid 31-point (7 goals, 24 assists) season, which saw Chabot post a plus/minus of +6 and record 112 blocked shots. 

Chabot, who in his career has totalled 335 points (78 goals, 257 assists) along with 270 PIMs in 569 career games, is also a fixture on the power play and can log up to 26:23 of ice time per game while also excelling at blocking shots.  

While they might not exactly be household names, Ottawa’s blueline also has effective players in the likes of Jordan Spence (+15), Artem Zub (+22) and Tyler Kleven, who, with his physicality, adds sandpaper to the defence.  

When training camp gets underway, the big question will be whether Carter Yakemchuk, drafted in 2024, 7th overall, can finally get a full-time position with the Senators.    

Offence

Over the past several years, the Senators’ management team has done an outstanding job at the draft table, picking up some talented forwards like Tim Stutzle (3rd overall in 2020), Drake Batherson (121st overall in 2017), captain Brady Tkachuk (4th overall in 2018), and Shane Pinto (32nd overall in 2019).

At just 24, Stutzle is coming off another solid season, in which the centerman scored 34 goals, 83 points, and 39 PIMs.  

His strengths include being a dynamic stickhandler and skater with great speed. The exciting part is that Stutzle, for all that he has shown on the ice, is still years away from reaching his prime. 

Meanwhile, Batherson, 28, just completed his eighth season with the Senators, during which he scored a career-best 33 goals and 71 points. 

Besides providing offence, Batherson brings a lot of physicality to his game, which means more open ice for his linemates. 

Two other young Senators who bring physicality are Tkachuk, 26, captain and centerman Pinto, 25.

Tkachuk only played 60 games this past season, during which he produced 22 goals, 59 points, and 71 PIMs. Known as a heart-and-soul type of player, Tkachuk doesn’t hesitate to drop the gloves or get physical in the corner.  

Pinto, who is only 25, also plays an in-your-face brand of hockey while providing some offence. Last season, Pinto provided crucial secondary scoring, producing 23 goals, 46 points, and 42 PIMs.  

On the ice, Pinto is known for his great defensive plays and penalty killing, along with that knack for getting under his opponent’s skin. 

Ottawa’s lineup up front also has some veteran leadership in centerman Claude Giroux, who finished the season with 49 points and a +20, showing that, despite being 38, he still has lots of hockey left in the tank.

Outlook For the Senators

Expect the Senators’ young core to take another big step forward. Not only do they now have playoff experience, but they are also a little older and mature, which will definitely play a big role in guiding the rookies.

Fans should have a lot of fun watching this team get better and better.   

Photos: Courtesy NHL.com