Ottawa Senators 2025-26 Season End Awards

It’s been nearly a month since the Ottawa Senators fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in four games. It was a disappointing end to a frustrating season that saw the team struggle when they were expected to thrive, and their best players stumble when they were needed the most. “I don’t think anybody’s more frustrated with how everything went than me,” said captain Brady Tkachuk after his team was eliminated. “At the end of the day, I didn’t play good enough.”

But there were some truly inspiring moments this season that the team can continue to build on. When the roster was missing key pieces due to injury, the Senators saw some of their depth players step up in big ways, and the team played some of its best hockey of the season. As the NHL unveils its award winners throughout the playoffs, let’s crown our own to celebrate the great achievements of the 2025-26 Senators.

MVP: Tim Stutzle

Although this is Brady’s team, German phenom Tim Stutzle was the Senators’ best player this season. Not only did he lead the team with 34 goals and 84 points, but he also had the fourth-most blocked shots among forwards, the second-most drawn penalty minutes, the second-most shifts, the most takeaways, and a 53% success rate in the faceoff dot. He played on the power play and the penalty kill and was one of the Senators’ most reliable players on both special teams. Whatever needed to be done, Stutzle tried to do it, and he did it well.

“Timmy’s the best player I’ve ever played with,” Jake Sanderson said to Elliott Friedman in a Sportsnet feature. “It’s so cool what he does every single day. Pickleball, tennis, he’s the best at every sport. Don’t tell him I said that, though.”

The best part is that, at just 24 years old, Stutzle is still getting better. “Timmy’s game is still growing,” said head coach Travis Green, “and he knows that we’re going to push him to be his best, and he hasn’t got there yet.” Yes, his playoff performance was underwhelming with just one assist in four games, but he has proven he can be the best Senator, and he’s getting better every season.

Best Defenceman: Jake Sanderson

An injury limited him to just 67 games, but Sanderson still managed to put up 14 goals and 54 points, which led the Senators’ blue line in scoring. He also remained the best defenceman in Ottawa at creating offence, finishing just behind Tkachuk with the second-most shot attempts per game, and his 374 total shot attempts were second only to Dylan Cozens.

But Sanderson isn’t just an offensive powerhouse. He led the Senators with 128 blocked shots, was third in takeaways, and had a 2.5 goals against per 60 minutes despite averaging nearly 19 minutes per game at even strength and facing some of the league’s most dangerous players. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to earn him his first Norris nomination as the NHL’s best defenceman, but he was nominated for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to the player deemed the most sportsmanlike without compromising their high level of play. It’s recognition of how well-rounded his game is, and the self-described hockey nerd won’t ever compromise on what he knows works.

“I think you don’t want to get too consumed in your routines. I think comfort kills growth,” he said during his exit interview. “It’s my life. It’s 24 hours, non-stop.”

Playoff MVP: Linus Ullmark

Linus Ullmark was by far the best Senator in their four-game series against the Hurricanes. He started all four games, faced an average of 33 shots per game, and still finished with a .932 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.03 goals against average (GAA). Only three goalies in this season’s playoffs still have better numbers than him. The only problem was that the team in front of him couldn’t score enough.

2025-26 was a rocky season for Ullmark. He had an awful start to the year, then was one of the best by the end of October. But by December, things had gotten ugly, and Ullmark was granted a leave of absence from the team, which he later revealed was to deal with his mental health. He returned to the Senators on Jan. 31, and while there were still bumps, he finished the last half of the season with a .904 SV%, much better than his .881 SV% from the first few months, leading to his Masterton Trophy nomination.

But Ullmark’s playoffs were something else. It’s what he was expected to be when the Senators acquired him ahead of last season, and there’s real hope that he can continue this level of play into next season.

Most Improved: Tyler Kleven

Tyler Kleven may not be the biggest name on the team’s roster, but he has continued to take steps in his development and prove that he is a crucial part of the Senators’ defence. Last season, the rookie defender finished with four goals and 10 points over 79 games while averaging under 15 minutes a game, and had 97 blocked shots, 30 takeaways, and 105 hits. A promising start for a physical defensive defender.

This season, Kleven was given a bigger role, and he rose to the occassion. Despite playing nine fewer games, he nearly doubled his point total, finishing with three goals and 18 points, and upped his hits to 126. He also averaged more blocked shots and takeaways per outing, and was taking more offensive chances, as he finished 2025-26 with 90 shots on goal, 12 more than last season. He also improved his Corsi For Percentage (CF%) to over 50% for the first time in his career, and had one of the lowest goals against per 60 minutes while on the penalty kill on the team. He’s proving he’s more than just a wrecking ball on skates, and the Senators are better for it.

Best Newcomer: Jordan Spence

The Senators’ defensive depth was truly tested at the end of this season, with Thomas Chabot, Sanderson, and Kleven all forced off the ice with a playoff spot on the line. That’s when Jordan Spence stepped up and solidified a fractured blue line, finishing with one of the lowest goals against per 60-minute averages on the team and leading in CF% while playing over upwards of 30 minutes a night. That’s definitely worth a third and a sixth-round pick.

Spence has proven he can handle top-four minutes and has the trust of his head coach. Now he just needs a contract. With Nick Jensen expected to go to free agency, there’s some wiggle room to afford a deal expected in the $3.6-5 million range. That’s more than affordable for a defenceman who showed he can be one of the best possession players on the team and has the potential to put up 50 points, at least based on his pace in March.

Biggest Surprise: Drake Batherson

Stephen Halliday was great in his 30 games this season, and Carter Yakemchuk looks ready for the NHL after just a cup of coffee with the Senators, but Drake Batherson gets the nod as the biggest surprise because of how quietly he put up 33 goals this season. He’s been close in the past, putting up 28 goals in 2023-24 and was on pace to hit it in his incredible 2021-22 campaign before a dirty hit nearly took him out for the rest of the season. Since then, he’s been a solid supporting player, never a core member but never expendable; a 60-70 point player who was happy to be in the background.

That wasn’t the case this season. As Tkachuk struggled with consistency, injuries, and trade rumour distractions, Batherson emerged as the team’s second-best forward. His 33 goals and 71 points were second only to Stutzle during the regular season, and in the playoffs, he led the Senators with three goals and four points. He, too, will need a new contract for next season, but like Spence, he’s proven that he is a crucial part of the Senators’ success moving forward.

The Senators Are Still a Playoff Team

This season’s results have certainly put a damper on next season, and it seems like they’re still several pieces away from challenging the top teams in the East. But the Senators are still a competitive playoff-calibre team. They have all the most important pieces in place, and the core is still developing, meaning that things are going to keep getting better.