Ottawa Senators team preview: Is this team ready for Stanley Cup contention?

For years, the Ottawa Senators had been through the highs and lows of a long rebuild, seeing hope only for tough lessons and frustrating stretches to leave the team wondering if the plan was going in the right direction.

Elevated expectations can bring out the best in teams, or the pressure can sink them. Last season, the Senators passed a big test by reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017, but now the organization has its sights set on more.

This is a passionate market that still remembers the Stanley Cup Final run in 2007 and the unlikely journey to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017. Those moments set expectations of what this team can accomplish. Getting back to the playoffs is meaningful, but staying there — and building on it — is what truly matters.

That’s the task ahead is a simple but challenging one for the Senators. They want to show that they are no longer the up-and-coming team people keep waiting on, but rather they are capable of being in the conversation with powerhouses Florida, Tampa Bay and Toronto in the Atlantic Division.

The climb is far from complete. But after years of waiting, there’s reason to believe the Senators aren’t just chasing the pack anymore — they’re beginning to run with it.

Newcomer to watch: Jordan Spence

Ottawa has historically leaned heavily on its top four defenders, hoping to win those minutes with the team's depth struggling to keep up. The addition of Jordan Spence is an intriguing one, as the 24-year-old arrived in a trade from Los Angeles with a reputation as a modern puck-moving blue-liner who thrives in transition.

Although Spence is not going to wow anyone with size or big-time hits, his ability to move the puck quickly out of the zone and feed Ottawa’s forwards in stride could quietly make a big difference. Being able to break the puck out of the zone will be crucial for the Senators, especially when Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot aren't on the ice. His addition also provides stability and takes pressure off younger options Tyler Kleven and Carter Yakemchuk to play more than they need to.

Under-the-radar player to watch: Fabian Zetterlund

With so much attention on Ottawa’s stars and its wave of young talent, it’s easy to overlook a player like Zetterlund. But the versatile winger could quietly become one of the Senators’ most important depth pieces this season. Unfortunately for Senators fans, he struggled to get going offensively after being acquired at the trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks, scoring two goals and five points in 20 games. It's a similar issue he had in the 2022-23 season, when he was traded from New Jersey to San Jose and registered just three points in the final 22 games.

However, after a full training camp and an increased role in San Jose, he put up 24 goals and 44 points in 82 games, so Senators fans are hoping for a similar turnaround can happen this season. Right now, Zetterlund is pencilled in to play with Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk on the Senators' top line, which could afford him the chance to see an increase in ice time and offensive role if he sticks. In that role, the Senators will expect him to score close to the 24 goals he had a couple of seasons ago.

Top prospect: Carter Yakemchuk

When the Senators used the seventh-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Yakemchuk, it was clear that they envisioned him being another cornerstone player for years to come. He certainly has the size and offensive tools that NHL teams covet but really there's only one issue with the young defender ... and that's timing.

The Senators' depth chart is more crowded than usual, with Sanderson, Chabot, Artem Zub and the new addition in Spence handling key minutes. That means the Senators don't need to rush Yakemchuk's development, which is a luxury, but if he impresses in camp and proves he can handle the pace, there’s an outside chance he could earn NHL minutes sooner rather than later. Even if he starts the season in the AHL with Belleville, his path to Ottawa feels inevitable.

Long term, he projects as a top-four anchor with upside to be even more. In a year when the Senators are pushing to solidify their playoff identity, Yakemchuk might not just be a prospect to watch — and provide a boost in games that matter.

Three Burning Questions

1. Can Linus Ullmark stay healthy and be a consistent contributor?

The Senators were excited to bring in a goalie with Linus Ullmark's resume, considering the adventure it's been for the team to find a capable starter. But the former Vezina Trophy winner was struggling to find his consistency, and injuries forced him to miss a good portion of games. Then, when the Senators needed Ullmark to step in the playoffs, he wasn't able to rise to the task, posting a 2.84 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage in six games against Toronto.

It wasn't all bad for Ullmark, however, as he provided the Senators with better production between the pipes than they've been accustomed to. He still appeared in 44 games, going 25-14-3 with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, which was still below his career average but good enough to get Ottawa to the playoffs. But if this team wants to challenge other teams in the Atlantic Division and make a run for the Cup, it will need better than "good enough" from Ullmark, especially when they're paying him $8.25 million per season.

2. Which Dylan Cozens will show up this season?

Acquiring Dylan Cozens last season was a big shakeup for the Senators' forward group, and he produced a respectable 16 points in 21 games. Then came the playoffs, and the 24-year-old's offence dried up as he had only a goal and two points in the first round. It seems to be the story of Cozens' career — just when you think he is about to turn the corner, he takes a step back in production. Cozens put up a career-high 31 goals and 68 points in the 2022-23 season, but hasn't registered more than 47 points since.

So the real question that we have now is whether or not Cozens is capable of scoring 30 goals and 70 points. You would hope that moving on from the Sabres to a more competitive team in Ottawa will push him to be a more consistent contributor. Early in training camp, Cozens has been skating with Drake Batherson and David Perron, who should help him be a more consistent contributor. Head coach Travis Green will certainly be hoping that Cozens will live up to his nickname as the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" and be a more prominent two-way forward in Ottawa's top six.

3. How much of a step forward can stars take?

It's no secret that if the Senators want to take the next step as a contender, their best players will need to drive the bus. Balance and depth can improve a team's ability to compete but past champions have had their elite players lead the charge.

Tkachuk has already cemented himself as the heartbeat of the franchise and is the one who sets the tone. He's made it clear that making the playoffs isn't enough anymore for this group.

He powered through an injury to score four goals and three assists in the first round against Toronto to lead the Senators in playoff scoring. Tkachuk admitted that he needed to work on his conditioning and feels better than ever. Ottawa hopes that is true because he'll need be close to the 35-goal, 80-point player that he was a couple of years ago while bringing that edge to his game.

Looking up and down the Senators' lineup, no player should have more pressure on them to regain their elite form than Stutzle. After signing his eight-year contract extension in September 2022, Stutzle had a breakout season with 90 points that made the contract look like a steal. His offensive numbers have dipped since then with two straight seasons with less than a point per game. The Senators need top-elite production from Stutzle if they want to take the next step.

As part of Ottawa's "Big 3," Sanderson has earned a lot of trust from the coaching staff as a 22-year-old. In each of his three seasons in the NHL, Sanderson has seen his production and ice time increase. His dynamic ability was put on display at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and there's no reason he can't have that translate in big crunch moments for Ottawa.