The Ottawa Senators defied the predictions and vastly underperformed in the 2023-24 season, missing the post-season yet again. But, as the off-season approaches, what crucial moves can the Senators make to flip the script?
Over the last half-decade, the Ottawa Senators haven’t had as high stakes of an off-season as the one they’re approaching.
Ever since former Sens owner Eugene Melnyk publicly declared a rebuild before the 2018-19 season — playoffs have felt out of reach in Ottawa. For the last little while, the focus had been on the individual development of the likes of Brady Tkachuk Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson, among others.
But after years and years of trusting the process, the Sens — the NHL's third-youngest team last year — seemed poised to take the next step during the 2023-24 season. But Ottawa finished 13 points out of a wild-card spot and second-last in the Atlantic Division. They were one of the NHL’s worst teams in virtually every category — 5-on-5 offence and defence, power play, penalty kill, goaltending, you name it. And the shelf life of the ‘building for the future’ narrative is expiring, and frustration has seeped in.
“Everybody knows. Just finished Year 6 and haven’t done a thing,” Tkachuk told reporters at this year's locker room cleanout. “Haven’t played in those meaningful games that I’ve imagined.”
Ottawa, as currently constructed, isn’t contending for a Stanley Cup anytime soon — let alone a wild-card berth. GM Steve Staios is going to have to perform some roster surgery to change that. And that could lead to some uncomfortable decisions.
Up front, the Sens are a prime example of how raw skill doesn’t always correlate to offensive success. Tkachuk, Stutzle, Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig should be the only untouchables. The latter can play up the lineup, and the Sens are looking to add some of the snot Greig brings, not subtract it, whereas the other three are bona fide top-six pieces with sky-high potential.
But for those three to take that next step, Ottawa’s outer nucleus up front needs an injection of more experienced and capable veterans who can contribute on both ends of the ice. Claude Giroux has done an amicable job as the team's dad, but he can’t be the only veteran playing meaningful minutes.
Perhaps the Senators could get a well-rounded and experienced player, such as pending UFA Jake DeBrusk on the Boston Bruins. Debrusk is a safe bet to score 40 to 50 points a year, and he’s a hard forechecker and a proven playoff performer, having tallied 17 points in his last 20 post-season games.
On the back end, the Senators are due for a defensive makeover after ranking 28th in goals against per game last year (3.43)
Aside from Sanderson — a budding franchise defenseman — nobody else should be untouchable. They simply can’t continue to ice a blueline with Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun — two offensive defensemen who struggle to handle tough matchups and heavy minutes — and expect to be playing hockey in June or even May.
This year's UFA market is filled with the type of meat-and-potatoes defencemen that Ottawa desperately needs — such as Chris Tanev, Brett Pesce and Matt Roy.
Of course, the play of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is the giant elephant in the room.
Fresh off signing a five-year, $20-million deal — Korpisalo was struggled in his first year with the Sens, posting a .890 save percentage while playing a career-high 55 games.
While The Hockey News’ Pat Maguire believes a buyout is unlikely, Staios didn’t rule it out at his end-of-season address.
Ottawa simply can’t afford to run it back with the same netminders. Could they try to pursue a trade for Linus Ullmark from the Bruins? Despite being leapfrogged by Jeremy Swayman, Ullmark won the Vezna in 2023, and he's probably the best 1A goalie you can find on the market.
Ottawa has lots of ammo in this year's NHL draft — including two first-round picks and four fourth-round picks — to shell out if Ullmark is willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Sens end up on his 15-team no-trade list.