How Good Can the Senators Be in 2025-26?
The Ottawa Senators approach the 2025–26 NHL season as a team perched on the edge. They’re restless, tested from last year’s playoff performance, and finally equipped with the kind of roster that, on paper, should compete. The center position is one of the club’s biggest strengths. Tim Stützle, entering his prime, has blossomed into a legitimate star. He's dynamic, confident, and capable of taking over games with his speed and playmaking. He can play both center and winger, adding to his already strong versatility. Behind him, Shane Pinto adds depth and intelligence down the middle, while Dylan Cozens brings a power-forward style that should wear down opposing lines. Ridly Greig continues to mature into an effective two-way presence, and Lars Eller offers a stabilizing veteran hand. The bottom six is rounded out by depth pieces like Jan Jeník, Garrett Pilon, Stephen Halliday, and Nick Cousins, who provide a mixture of physicality, defensive utility, and occasional offense. It’s a center core with a healthy blend of youth, skill, and experience, and if they stay healthy, it’s one of the better units in the Eastern Conference.
On the wings, Ottawa’s firepower and physical identity shine through. Brady Tkachuk remains the emotional and physical cornerstone of the franchise. He’s a wrecking ball with a scoring touch and a natural leader who drags the team into battle. David Perron brings veteran savvy and can still finish plays, especially with the man advantage. Fabian Zetterlund and Wyatt Bongiovanni may not be household names, but both are likely to earn ice time with their work ethic and versatility. On the right, the ever-reliable Claude Giroux still has gas in the tank and is crucial in both special teams and leadership. Arthur Kaliyev brings the kind of shot-first mentality the team has lacked in its middle six, while Michael Amadio and Zack MacEwen are reliable, no-nonsense role players. Tyler Boucher’s physicality and upside could earn him more minutes this year if he shows consistency. Though not as deep as some top-tier contenders, especially since many of these wings can play as center, this forward group has bite, experience, and the ability to overwhelm slower teams when they’re rolling.
Defensively, the Senators finally look like a team that’s ready to protect leads instead of simply chasing offense. Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot form the foundation of a high-skill pair with mobility, puck-moving ability, and the vision to drive play out of their own zone. Chabot’s game will benefit greatly from a lighter workload and more help. Artem Zub continues to be one of the more underrated shutdown defenders in the league. He's steady, smart, and tough on his end. Nick Jensen is a sneaky-smart addition, bringing veteran reliability and penalty-kill experience. Young defensemen like Jordan Spence and Carter Yakemchuk offer fresh energy and long-term upside, while Lassi Thomson, Tyler Kleven, and Tomas Hamara will fight for ice time as the season unfolds. Travis Hamonic returns as a steady depth piece, and Donovan Sebrango and Nikolas Matinpalo provide further organizational depth. The blue line, finally, seems to have balance, mobility, grit, and enough options to weather injuries without falling apart.
In goal, Linus Ullmark changes everything. With Ullmark between the pipes, the Senators have the kind of proven netminder who can steal games and carry stretches. Mads Søgaard, still developing, gives them a strong backup option, and Leevi Meriläinen adds intrigue for the future. With competent goaltending now in place, the ceiling for this team rises dramatically. Altogether, the 2025–26 Senators feel like a team on the verge. Not in a rebuilding sense, but in the truest competitive way. The core has grown up. The defense has stabilized. The goaltending has arrived. If the team stays healthy and the younger players take even modest steps forward, there’s no reason Ottawa can’t push deep into the playoff conversation. They may not be a finished product just yet, but they’ve finally moved from hopeful to truly dangerous.
