45-30-7 97 points (4th Atlantic, 6th conference, 12th overall)
2.95 GF/GP, 19th; 2.83 GA/GP, 13th
23.8 PP%, 11th; 77.27 PK%, 19th
Key losses: None
Key additions: F Lars Eller, F Arthur Kaliyev, D Jordan Spence
Expected lineup:
Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stutzle – Drake Batherson
David Perron – Dylan Cozens – Claude Giroux
Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – Fabian Zetterlund
Nick Cousins – Lars Eller – Michael Amadio
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot – Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence
Linus Ullmark
Leevi Merilainen
PP1: Tkachuk – Cozens – Batherson – Stutzle - Sanderson
PP2: Greig – Perron - Giroux – Chabot - Zetterlund
5x5:
Ottawa’s overall offensive production fell from 250 to 242 last season but the team found a way to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. At even strength, the drop was 24 goals, with most of the mild decline year over year offset thanks to improvement in the power play. For the Senators to build off the success they had last season, the 5x5 production, which was next to last in the league, needs to rise substantially.
Defensively, the team was vastly better. Much of the credit goes to Linus Ullmark, who came over from Boston, for his play between the pipes as well as the improved defense in front of him. Ullmark was rewarded with a four-year extension with a cap hit of $8.25 million. The Senators cut their goals allowed by 49, contributing largely to their better record and postseason berth.
The top-nine, at least in paper, should be able to produce. In terms of real life, from the forwards, only Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson had offensive campaigns in line with expectations. That said, Stutzle, who posted 90 points in 2022-23, fell to 70 the following season and 79 last year. Batherson improved his point production from the sixth straight campaign, this time, though, going from 66 to 68 points. Brady Tkachuk, a leader on and off the ice, his least-productive individual season since 2020-21, but posted 200+ hits for the sixth straight year.
GM Steve Staios stole Dylan Cozens from Buffalo at the trade deadline for Josh Norris. Cozens posted 16 points in 21 contests in Ottawa after notching If looking for a player who could explode this season, Cozens is your guy. just 31 in 61 contests as a Sabre. Coach Travis Green can mix-and match for the remainder four winger slots with Shane Pinto aiming for his third straight 20+ goal campaign in a season where he plays 70+ goals.
Jake Sanderson, as you will see below, is a point play monster. On the flip side, Thomas Chabot did most of his damage at even strength, tallying 37 points. The remainder of the blue line was not an offensive threat. Ottawa acquired Jordan Spence from the Kings in exchange for a third-round selection in 2025 and a sixth-round pick in 2026, hoping he can provide some production from the blue line.
PP
Ottawa’s power play improved from 18.0 per cent, 23rd in 2023-24, to 23.8, 11th in the league. Up front, they were led by Tkachuk, who had 14 PPG, and Batherson, close behind with 13 on the man-advantage. Stutzle had 33 points, including five goals, while Sanderson added 30 points with the same number of tallies. Cozens should be the fifth member of the unit.
Chabot with quarterback the second unit, joined likely by Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto, David Perron and Fabian Zetterlund. The Senators are high on Zetterlund, who showed he can a secondary producer in San Jose.
On the penalty kill. Pinto and Ridly Greig notched five shorthanded goals.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.