Senators show real reasons for optimism even after Brady Tkachuk exit

The Ottawa Senators are stepping into a new era without Brady Tkachuk, their captain for the past five seasons and now a member of the Florida Panthers. His departure removes a driving physical and emotional force from the lineup, but it has not altered the organization’s goal of making the playoffs for a third straight year. That mission begins in earnest on Saturday when Ottawa opens the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Head coach Travis Green has pointed to the steady improvement of his young core as the foundation for that confidence. He believes the group has taken significant steps over the last two seasons and still has room to grow, with multiple players yet to reach their ceiling. In other words, the Senators see Tkachuk’s exit as a challenge to manage, not a reason to tear anything down.

Eklund’s upside and scoring by committee

To help absorb the loss up front, the Senators quickly turned to William Eklund, acquired from the San Jose Sharks two days after Tkachuk was dealt. Eklund is not expected to be a like‑for‑like replacement, but his profile suggests untapped offence. Last season his expected goal total sat at 22.7, well above the 15 goals he actually scored, hinting that he could be in line for a finishing bump.

He did much of his damage in tight, with nine goals from the inner slot, and ranked among the better forwards in the NHL at recovering offensive rebounds and winning puck battles in the attacking zone. Green has slotted Eklund with Dylan Cozens and former Sharks teammate Fabian Zetterlund, a trio that combined for a pre‑season goal against the Montreal Canadiens when Eklund drove the net to finish a Cozens feed.

Ottawa will continue to rely on a spread‑out attack rather than a single star to carry the load. Last season nine forwards hit at least 30 points, and eight of them remain, led by Tim Stutzle’s 83 points. That balance is central to the Senators’ plan to offset the loss of Tkachuk’s production.

Defensive identity led by Sanderson and Pinto

Where Ottawa truly separated itself a year ago was on the defensive side of the puck. The Senators led the NHL in expected goals against per game in all situations and trailed only the Tampa Bay Lightning at five‑on‑five. Jake Sanderson was at the heart of that effort, logging nearly 25 minutes per night in tough matchups while still driving play in the right direction.

With Sanderson on the ice at five‑on‑five, Ottawa controlled 56.4 per cent of expected goals and outscored opponents 52–40. Green has praised him as a complete defenceman with high‑end skill, work ethic and commitment. Even though partner Artem Zub is projected to miss the start of the year, the blue line remains a strength, bolstered by a four‑year contract for Jordan Spence after his breakout in last season’s injury crunch. In limited minutes together, Sanderson and Spence heavily tilted the ice at even strength.

Up front, Shane Pinto is gaining league‑wide respect as a shutdown centre, reflected in his sixth‑place finish in Selke Trophy voting and eight first‑place votes. His emergence gives Green another key piece to deploy in defensive situations.

Ullmark’s rebound could define the season

For all of Ottawa’s structure, the biggest swing factor is in net. Linus Ullmark went through a turbulent season that included a leave of absence to address his mental health, but he returned with elite numbers. Over his final 21 starts he went 14‑4‑3 and saved 11.8 goals above expected, ranking 14th in the NHL from Jan. 31 to the end of the regular season.

He then carried that form into the playoffs, posting 8.1 goals saved above expected in four first‑round games against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Ullmark has emphasized how different it feels to start this year on level ground mentally, saying it is “nice to be even and able to work through the positives” instead of playing catch‑up from day one.

If the Senators can sustain their top‑tier defensive metrics and receive goaltending close to Ullmark’s late‑season standard, there is a clear path to staying in the playoff race. The Tkachuk era may be over in Ottawa, but the expectation of meaningful spring hockey remains very much alive.