3 Big Ifs for the Ottawa Senators in 2025–26

The air in Ottawa is buzzing. Last season, the Senators broke their eight-year playoff drought and got a glimpse of what postseason hockey feels like. Sure, they bowed out in six to the Maple Leafs, but watching Stützle, Tkachuk, Sanderson, and Batherson play in the playoffs for the first time was electric. The question now: what’s the best the Senators can hope for in 2025–26?

Big If One: What If the Senators’ Stars Reach the Next Level and the Rookies Make an Impact?

It’s simple. Ottawa’s top talent has to hit its stride. Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk (when he comes back from his injury) have the skill to light up the scoreboard, and if Dylan Cozens holds down the second line, the Sens could have one of the deepest offensive groups in the Atlantic. Imagine the core forwards clicking, supporting each other, and keeping opponents guessing — that’s a team capable of making some serious noise.

The Sens have promising youngsters waiting in the wings. Carter Yakemchuk, Stephen Halliday, and Tyler Boucher could each carve out a role this season. If even one or two break through, Ottawa suddenly has more balance, more options, and the kind of depth that makes a playoff push sustainable. Timing matters, but the potential is real.

Big If Two: What If the Senators' Defense and Goaltending Hold Steady?

The back end is solid with Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, and Jensen, plus the depth of Spence and Kleven. Combine that with Linus Ullmark in the crease and Leevi Merilainen as a reliable backup, and Ottawa could rank among the league’s stingiest teams. A defense that clicks and a hot goalie can carry a team through stretches when the scoring lags — and the Sens have the pieces for that.

Big If Three: What If the Senators' Coaching and Culture Continue to Grow?

Head coach Travis Green’s system worked last year, and stronger player buy-in could push the team even higher. Veterans like Claude Giroux and David Perron mentoring rookies while the stars hit their stride might give Ottawa the cohesion playoff teams need.

So What’s the Ceiling for the Senators?

The Senators have kicked off 2025–26 with a mixed bag of results: six wins, five losses, and three overtime losses in 14 games. They’ve scored 50 goals and allowed 54, leaving them slightly under .500 with a minus-4 goal differential. If you like roller-coaster starts, Ottawa’s your team: a 4–2–1 record at home, 2–3–2 on the road, and a 5–2–3 stretch in one scenario or another. It’s messy, but it’s early, and there’s a lot of room for growth.

Still, what’s the ceiling for this team? A full playoff run isn’t guaranteed, and the Atlantic Division is no gift, but the Senators are in a position to surprise. If the young stars mature, the defense stays tight, and the culture keeps building, Ottawa could finally make 2025–26 a season to remember. For the fans, it’s a chance to dream a little bigger — and with this group, there’s reason to do just that.