Thomas Chabot named new captain of Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators appointed Thomas Chabot as their captain on Tuesday, installing the veteran defenceman as the new face of the team’s leadership group heading into the 2026‑27 NHL season. Chabot takes over the role from Brady Tkachuk, who held the captaincy for five years before being dealt to the Florida Panthers earlier in the off-season.

First Francophone captain in modern Senators history

Chabot, 29, becomes the 11th player to wear the "C" for the modern Senators and the first Francophone captain in franchise history. President of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios, in a team statement, highlighted Chabot’s commitment to the organization and the city, emphasizing his team-first approach and professionalism.

Drafted 18th overall by Ottawa in 2015, Chabot has spent his entire NHL career with the Senators. Over 10 seasons, he has appeared in 569 regular-season games, recording 78 goals and 257 assists. He has also been part of the club’s return to playoff contention, contributing one goal and three assists in 10 post-season games over the past two springs.

In the team’s announcement, Chabot described how deeply rooted he and his family have become in the nation’s capital, saying that Ottawa truly feels like home and that being named captain there is a major honour. His long tenure, offensive impact from the blue line and familiarity with the market made him a natural choice to succeed Tkachuk.

Senators finalize leadership group ahead of opener in Toronto

Ottawa also confirmed its alternate captains, forming a leadership group that blends experience and youth. Veteran forward Claude Giroux will wear an "A" alongside defenceman Jake Sanderson and star forward Tim Stützle, giving Chabot a strong supporting cast in the room and on the ice.

The timing of the announcement comes just days before the Senators open their season on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a road test to begin a new chapter without Tkachuk. With Chabot now officially at the helm, the organization signals its confidence in a player who has been central to its core for a decade.

League-wide, Ottawa’s decision means only three NHL teams currently lack a captain: the Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. For the Senators, however, the hierarchy is clearly defined as they enter the 2026‑27 campaign with Chabot leading an established leadership group.