I want to apologize for uttering words that no one wants to hear: Summer is halfway over. Not just for us, but throughout the NHL and every team that is preparing for the season. The 2025-26 season begins on Oct. 9 for the Ottawa Senators when they take on their Atlantic Division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Last spring, the Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017 when they lost in the Eastern Conference Final. It’s been a slow build since then, and even though they lost to the hated Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2025 Playoffs, last season was a success, which means that anything short of a playoff appearance in 2026 will be considered a failure.
Related: Senators Goaltending Depth Chart: 2025 Offseason
It’s easy to expect the Sens to be playing in late April. It’s hard to imagine a 97-point team in 2024-25 falling out of the top eight in 2025-26. Of course, the New York Rangers did it, but my point remains the same. That said, while the Eastern Conference is not as deep as the West, it is still poised to be better than in years past, so there’s no guarantee that Ottawa will be back in the postseason.
The Sens Are Better… On Paper
Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and Drake Batherson are the first names that come to mind on the Senators’ roster. Another season of goaltender Linus Ullmark behind a solid blue line and another season of head coach Travis Green behind the bench are very promising. Yet, it’s the newcomers that make me think the team is better than last season.
Dylan Cozens will have a full season with the club after putting up five goals and 16 points in 21 games with the Sens after being traded from the Buffalo Sabres. In what may be one of my favourite signings of any Atlantic Division team this offseason, the Sens signed Lars Eller to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. While his 15 points in 63 games last season won’t blow anyone away, his efficiency in the faceoff circle and his two-way game will be a huge addition, even if he is in the bottom six. What’s more, adding Eller will also put other players in their proper place.
Claude Giroux and David Perron are back in the mix, and while they are both on the back nine of their careers, Ottawa’s young core is strong enough to make it a perfect blend of veteran leadership and youthful presence.
The only thing…
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