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New Coach, New Goalie: Will Ottawa Senators Take the Step?
The Ottawa Senators entered the 2023-2024 season with high expectations, but it ended in disappointment. The Senators finished with just 78 points in the Atlantic Division, far from the playoff race. Injuries and suspensions derailed their season, leaving fans and management frustrated with the results.
One of the key blows to the Senators' season was the suspension of Shane Pinto, along with the significant injuries to defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward Josh Norris. Chabot missed a large chunk of the season, particularly from games 8 to 31, and the Senators’ performance noticeably dipped in his absence. The team’s ESBC Power AI metrics sharply declined as soon as their star defenseman and top center were out of the lineup, and they never fully recovered. Firing head coach D.J. Smith in an attempt to spark a turnaround failed to produce the desired results, as the team’s struggles persisted.
Goaltending was another weak link for the Senators. Both Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg posted poor ESBC Power AI goalie metrics, and their inconsistency in net further exacerbated the team’s problems. Ottawa’s defensive issues, combined with shaky goaltending, left them unable to sustain any momentum throughout the season.
Offseason Moves:
In response to their disappointing season, the Senators made several key moves during the 2024 offseason, addressing their most glaring weakness: goaltending. Ottawa acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins, a significant upgrade over Korpisalo. Ullmark is coming off an exceptional season in Boston, where he was one of the top goaltenders in the league. However, it’s worth noting that Boston had a strong defensive system, which played a role in Ullmark’s success. While he may not replicate those exact numbers behind Ottawa’s different system, Ullmark is still expected to provide a much-needed boost to the Senators' goaltending.
The Senators also made a coaching change, hiring Travis Green, who previously coached the Vancouver Canucks. Green is known for his ability to develop young players and implement structure, which is exactly what Ottawa needs as they try to turn their fortunes around. His arrival brings fresh hope that the Senators can finally start realizing their potential.
In terms of roster changes, Ottawa lost Vladimir Tarasenko at the trade deadline, along with defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Erik Brännström during the offseason. These are notable departures, particularly on the blue line, where the team now lacks depth.
To counter those losses, Ottawa made a few additions, including veteran forwards David Perron and Michael Amadio. Perron brings experience, leadership, and offensive consistency, while Amadio provides depth for the middle and bottom six. However, the Senators did not make any blockbuster signings, instead opting to focus on development from within and relying on Ullmark to solidify their goaltending.
2024-2025 Season Outlook:
Once again, there is optimism in Ottawa, but the question remains: Can the Senators finally take the next step and become a playoff team?
The team’s chances will largely hinge on their ability to stay healthy. If Thomas Chabot and Josh Norris can avoid the injuries that derailed them last season, Ottawa’s lineup looks much more competitive. Chabot, when healthy, is one of the league’s top defensemen, and his presence transforms the Senators' defense. Similarly, Josh Norris’s return to full strength will provide the Senators with a true No. 1 center to lead the offense.
Linus Ullmark’s impact will be another crucial factor. While expecting him to replicate his elite numbers from Boston may be unrealistic, he should still represent a significant upgrade in net. If Ullmark can provide stability and consistency between the pipes, the Senators will have a much better chance of competing in tight games—something that eluded them last season.
Offensively, the Senators will need more contributions from their core, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Drake Batherson. The addition of David Perron should help spread out the scoring and give Ottawa more depth, but the burden will remain on their young stars to carry the team forward.
The Eastern Conference is highly competitive, and the Senators find themselves as one of the playoff bubble teams. ESBC Power AI analysis suggests that Ottawa has the potential to be in the mix, but they will need everything to fall into place—health, goaltending, and consistent play—if they want to secure a playoff spot.
Conclusion:
The Ottawa Senators enter the 2024-2025 season with tempered optimism. They’ve made improvements in net with the addition of Linus Ullmark and addressed the coaching situation by bringing in Travis Green. However, injuries and inconsistent performances remain concerns, and the departures of key players on defense raise questions about their ability to tighten up defensively.
While the Senators have the potential to surprise, they are still a bubble team in the Eastern Conference. For Ottawa to break through and make the playoffs, they will need a combination of health, strong goaltending, and more consistent team performance. With that said, the future remains bright for Ottawa, and they are a team on the rise, even if this season doesn’t end in a playoff berth.
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