Senators season preview: Look to fill void on, off ice without Tkachuk

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Ottawa Senators.

Last season: 44-27-11, fifth in Atlantic Division; lost in Eastern Conference First Round

Coach: Travis Green (third season)

Biggest challenge

Replacing Brady Tkachuk, both on and off the ice, will be the biggest hurdle facing the Senators. It’s easier said than done. Tkachuk, Ottawa’s captain since the start of the 2021-22 season, was traded to the Florida Panthers on June 21 for the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft plus a conditional first-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The 27-year-old, who had requested to be moved, had 463 points (213 goals, 250 assists) in 572 regular-season games, and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 playoff games for the Senators. Can the likes of Tim Stutzle (team-high 34 goals last season), Drake Batherson (33), Dylan Cozens (28), Shane Pinto (23) and newcomer William Eklund (50 goals in 252 career NHL games) fill the offensive void left behind by Tkachuk? As for the dressing room, look for veteran forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Thomas Chabot to pick up the leadership slack.

How they make playoffs

If the Senators get the version of Linus Ullmark who was outstanding toward the end of the regular season and carried that momentum into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the postseason is very much obtainable. His 12-4-3 record, .902 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average in 19 games after the regular season resumed Feb. 26 following the Olympics helped Ottawa squeeze into the Stanley Cup dance for a first-round matchup against the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes, a series he was excellent in despite his team being swept in four games. Prior to that, however, goaltending was an issue: the Senators ranked 29th in the League for the season with an .878 save percentage. They allowed 2.99 goals-against per game as a team, ranking 13th. Ottawa tried to address its roller coaster goaltending issues by hiring Maciej Szwoch, a friend and mentor of Ullmark, as coordinator of goaltending scouting and development.

Most intriguing addition

Eklund had 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 78 games with the San Jose Sharks last season and should start the season in a top-six role. The 23-year-old was acquired along with forward Kasper Halttunen and the rights to forward prospect Brandon Svoboda on June 23 for the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Senators opened training camp by reuniting Eklund with forward Fabian Zetterlund, his linemate with the Sharks before the latter was acquired by the Senators ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. Can their careers ascend in unison with Ottawa?

Biggest potential surprise

The Senators spent the early part of camp testing Andre Burakovsky on the wing of the first line alongside Stutzle and Batherson. Only time will tell if it’s warranted. His career high of 22 goals came with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22. Since then, the 31-year-old has scored 41 times across the subsequent four-season span. Truth be told, the Senators are looking to any and all comers to add offense after Tkachuk’s departure, and Burakovsky is being put into a prime position to succeed to that end. It will be interesting to see if he does. 

Ready to contribute

Carter Yakemchuk, who was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is poised to take the next step in his career. The defenseman, who will turn 21 on Sept. 29, was told in the season-ending exit meetings to come to training camp ready to earn a job with the Senators after an impressive NHL debut last season, when he had two points (one goal, one assist) in four regular-season games and two assists in one game during the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Hurricanes. He is spending camp staying with Senators forward Ridly Greig, a fellow Alberta native, and has been paired early on with No. 1 defenseman Jake Sanderson. Yakemchuk had 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) in 54 games with Belleville of the American Hockey League last season.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

William Eklund, F: He has had consecutive 50-point seasons after totaling 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 80 games as a rookie with the Sharks in 2024-25. Eklund, who will turn 24 years old on Oct. 12, could play on the top line with center Tim Stutzle, a two-time 30-goal scorer who has led Ottawa in points in three of the past four seasons. Eklund had a career-high 176 shots on goal last season and has seen an increase in that category in each of his past four seasons. The Senators were among the NHL leaders in power-play goals (63; fourth) and power-play percentage (24.0; eighth) last season, while Eklund led the Sharks with 17 power-play goals the past three seasons combined. Per NHL EDGE stats, Eklund scored 12 of his 15 goals from high-danger zones and ranked in the 90th percentile or higher among forwards in high-danger shots on goal (74), offensive zone time percentage (45.9 percent) and total skating distance (229.53 miles). Eklund is a full-fledged breakout candidate and an under-the-radar offseason mover based on average draft position (142.1). -- Troy Perlowitz

Projected lineup

Andre Burakovsky -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson

William Eklund -- Dylan Cozens -- Fabian Zetterlund

Ridly Greig -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux

Warren Foegele -- Stephen Halliday -- Michael Amadio

Jake Sanderson -- Carter Yakemchuk

Thomas Chabot -- Jordan Spence

Tyler Kleven -- Artem Zub

Linus Ullmark

Samuel Ersson