​The Ottawa Senators earned a playoff berth in each of the last two seasons, but their momentum faltered in the 2026 postseason, as they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. While their regular-season pace remained roughly in line with the previous year, Ottawa’s exit signals a troubling trend and a need for realignment as they head into 2026-27.
This offseason has many Sens fans anxious about what lies ahead. The most consequential development is the departure of captain Brady Tkachuk, who was moved to the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk’s tenacity and offensive spark will be missed, despite Ottawa’s additions of star winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks and winger Andre Burakovsky from the Chicago Blackhawks. Replacing the grit and intangible leadership that Tkachuk provided will be a daunting task.
Ottawa did manage to bring back veteran center Claude Giroux on a free-agent reunion, but the mood around the team darkened further when Daniel Alfredsson, a beloved figure in Ottawa hockey, left the coaching staff to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as an associate coach. Alfredsson’s move to a rival organization is a bitter pill for Senators fans, a betrayal many find hard to rationalize, given his iconic status in the franchise’s history.
There’s no suggestion of collapse, but the Senators face an Atlantic Division that promises to be more competitive than ever. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens figure to contend at high levels once again, while the Maple Leafs and Panthers have not stood still, each making notable improvements. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins are expected to push hard for playoff spots, and even the Detroit Red Wings could surface as playoff contenders in 2027. The division landscape is tightening, and Ottawa will need to respond accordingly.
Adding context to the bigger-picture challenge, Devan Dubnyk recently weighed in on the dynamics surrounding Brady Tkachuk’s public presence and its potential impact on the Senators. He suggested that while speaking candidly about fellow players can feel natural for a former NHLer, Tkachuk’s role as captain makes his outspoken tendencies more complicated. Dubnyk implied that such comments might be easier to handle for a player in Florida, but the optics remain delicate for Ottawa’s leadership core.
Looking ahead, the Sens could be staring at a step back in 2026-27. The departure of Tkachuk and the emotional blow of Alfredsson’s move compound the sense that the offseason has been more damaging than beneficial. On the ice, Ottawa did make some moves to bolster depth and goaltending, acquiring Samuel Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers via the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Linus Ullmark falters or cannot sustain elite form, the club could face a season of inconsistency in net, underscoring how much hinges on goaltending and defensive structure to counter a tougher Atlantic Division schedule.
In sum, the Senators entered the 2026-27 cycle facing a crucible moment. They must translate off-season changes into genuine gains: maintain offensive support for new lines, rebuild leadership dynamics in the wake of Tkachuk’s departure, and secure reliable goaltending to stabilize a team that is capable of competing but remains unproven in the most demanding division in the league. The road back to consistent playoff contention looks steeper than it did a year ago, and Ottawa’s success will hinge on how quickly they can adapt to a more aggressive and deeper conference, while managing the emotional resonance of some high-profile personnel shifts.