The NHL sure has no shortage of individual awards. Hell, it hands out 20 of them each year, so we’re not here lobbying for a 21st. But interestingly, not one of them goes to the league’s best bounce-back story.

Sure, the Bill Masterton Trophy flirts with the idea. It’s awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Wrapped up in that can sometimes be a nod to a bounce-back or improvement, but not usually. It almost always goes to the player who overcomes serious injury or illness or endures a life-changing hardship.

So, in the absence of an official award, here's the list of the early favourites in Ottawa, the top three candidates we believe could emerge as the best bounce-back Senators story in the 2025-26 season.

Linus Ullmark

Ullmark isn’t coming off what you’d call a bad season. Some nights, he was truly brilliant. Others, just okay. And some nights, he wasn’t dressed due to lingering injuries.

In total, Ullmark played 44 games last season, posting a .910 save percentage, tied for 17th in the NHL in that category. His 2.70 goals-against average placed him 25th (among goalies with at least 20 appearances). Decent numbers, but not quite the level the Senators envisioned when they signed him to the four-year, $8.25 million (AAV) extension that kicks in this fall.

In fairness, Ullmark had a lot on his plate: adapting to a new team and city, getting his family settled, kids in school, and negotiating that new deal, finalized just days before the regular season began. Nagging injuries also affected his availability and probably some of his performances throughout the year.

But with his contract now signed, his family settled, and his health hopefully back on track, expectations are higher. If he returns to even a shadow of the form that won him the 2023 Vezina Trophy in Boston, where he posted a .938 save percentage and a 1.89 GAA, the Senators will be thrilled. Ullmark still has considerable race track left (he turns 32 next week) and we're anticipating a better 2025-26.

Claude Giroux

When Giroux signed a three-year deal with the Senators in 2022, he made an immediate impact, posting 79 points in 82 games. But as that contract expired this summer and he lined up for a new one, the downward trend in production was hard to ignore: 79 points in Year 1, 64 in Year 2, and 50 last season.

If that drop-off were to continue, the trend would have him at 37 points this season. Whether they expect that or not, the Senators chose to bring him back on a $2 million deal with additional bonuses. 

But Giroux remains a proud competitor. We expect him to make it impossible for new head coach Travis Green to leave him out of the top six. His performance in the playoffs, five points in six games and second on the team in scoring, suggests the tank is far from empty.

Look for Giroux to bounce back to a point total in the 60s, more reflective of his average in Ottawa than the dip he experienced last season.

David Perron

With just 43 games played, Perron’s first season in Ottawa didn’t go as planned, but not for a lack of effort or skill. Injuries cost him some games, and more significantly, he had to step away from the team for family reasons. That's why, in the final days of January, Perron was still sitting at zero points over just 12 games played.

Now, with both situations apparently behind him, Perron enters camp this fall healthy, focused, and motivated to prove to the team and the fans he’s worth the $4 million salary he’s earning.

Despite the shortened season, he had some strong moments, including three points in six playoff games against the Maple Leafs. Like Giroux, Perron is also 37 and playing for his next contract, which should add another layer of motivation.

So we expect a more consistent, healthier season that shows Ottawa fans exactly what Perron can still bring.

If the Senators can count on these three to return to a more familiar form, Ottawa’s path to the playoffs will be a whole lot smoother. Not only that, they'll have a serious chance to make some real noise when they get there.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

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