Ottawa Senators
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Ottawa Senators, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: William Eklund, Andre Burakovsky, Samuel Ersson, Sammy Blais
Key Departures: Brady Tkachuk, Lars Eller, Nick Jensen, James Reimer
Overview
The 2025-26 season for the Senators had plenty of storylines, including goalie Linus Ullmark taking a personal leave of absence and controversy surrounding their captain, Brady Tkachuk. Yet, the Sens post-Olympic run earned them a playoff spot, only to be swept aside by the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The noise surrounding Brady Tkachuk came to an end in June as the Senators traded Tkachuk to Florida for three first-round draft picks and a second-round pick, where he will join his brother Matthew.
Offense
The Sens scored the eighth-most goals in the league last season and were just five goals shy of Buffalo, which finished fifth overall. Gone is Brady Tkachuk, a three-time 30-goal scorer, but with Tim Stutzle (34 goals), Drake Batherson (33 goals), Dylan Cozens (28 goals), and Shane Pinto (23 goals), the Sens still have plenty of scoring to keep them in games. William Eklund comes over from San Jose and is penciled in on the top line with Tim Stutzle and former Sharks teammate, Fabian Zetterlund. Eklund averaged 16 goals a season in his three seasons with the Sharks. Zetterlund scored 17 goals last season with Ottawa and scored a career-high 24 goals in his first season with San Jose. If both players can reach the 25-goal mark, it should minimize the loss of Tkachuk.
Defense
Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub, and Jordan Spence make up the Senators’ top two pairs on the back end. Sanderson’s 14 goals and 54 points led all Ottawa defensemen, while Jordan Spence had a breakthrough season after being acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Kings. Spence’s strong season earned him a new 4-year, 20-million-dollar contract. Tyler Kleven, Carter Yaremchuk and Nikolas Matinpalo will likely all split time on the team’s bottom pair.
Goaltending
This past season was a step back for Linus Ullmark from his strong 2024-25 debut in Ottawa (.910 SV%) and his Vezina-winning peak in Boston, largely due to early struggles and personal challenges. However, his post-return form and playoff performance were encouraging signs of resilience. Ullmark was arguably Ottawa’s best player despite being swept away by the Hurricanes in the opening round, posting a .932 save percentage. The hope is that Samuel Ersson, acquired from Philadelphia, can be a reliable backup playing 25 to 30 games. The Sens have enough confidence in Ersson to sign him to a two-year contract after acquiring him in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Player to Watch
Drake Batherson is an impending Unrestricted Free Agent. He is in the final year of a deal paying him just under $5 million, coming off a 33-goal season, and his points total has increased in all eight seasons. If the Sens can’t get his name on a new contract and are forced to trade him in-season, it would be a big blow to their playoff chances.
Outlook
Ottawa still has a lot of good pieces even with the loss of Brady Tkachuk. In saying that, I am still inclined to bet on Ottawa to miss the playoffs this season (-140). Sens fans won’t have to wait long to express their feelings about their former captain. Brady and the Panthers visit Ottawa on October 21.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 93.5 (Over -130, Under +100)
To Make the Playoffs: (+115)
Miss the Playoffs: (-140)
To Win the Division: (+1000)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+2000)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+3500)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 44-27-11 (99 points, 5th Atlantic Division)
Over/Under: 42-28-2
Home Favorite: 20-15 // Home Dog: 3-3
Road Favorite: 15-7 // Road Dog: 5-11
Win Score 4 or more: 29 of 44 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 27 of 38
Puck Line Wins: 26 of 44 // Puck Line Losses: 17 of 38
Front End Back-to-Back: 8-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 8-6
Points Leader: Tim Stutzle – 83
Goal Leader: Tim Stutzle – 34
Teams First Goal Leader: Drake Batherson – 14
Assist Leader: Tim Stutzle – 49
Shots on Goal Leader: Brady Tkachuk – 221
Blocked Shots: Jake Sanderson – 128
Depth Chart
Forwards
William Eklund / Tim Stutzle / Fabian Zetterlund
Ridly Greig / Dylan Cozens / Drake Batherson
Warren Foegele / Shane Pinto / Michael Amadio
Nick Cousins / Stephen Halliday / Andre Burakovsky
Defense
Jake Sanderson / Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot / Jordan Spence
Tyler Kleven / Carter Yakemchuk
Goalies
Linus Ullmark / Samuel Ersson
