The three pillars of the Ottawa Senators‘ playoff push – and the three biggest questions heading into camp – are the coach, the general manager, and the team’s captain.
After years of rebuild fatigue, the Senators finally gave fans something to cheer about last spring: playoff hockey. A 45–30–7 regular season record and a feisty first-round tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs put the Sens back on the NHL map. It wasn’t perfect—consistency came late, and depth was an issue—but for a team stuck in neutral for years, it felt like a shift into high gear. Now comes the hard part: doing it again.
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Expectations are higher, the Atlantic Division is no picnic, and the Senators are officially past the “surprise team” phase. With head coach Travis Green, GM Steve Staios, and captain Brady Tkachuk steering the ship, Ottawa has the right leadership in place—but each one of them enters 2025–26 with a spotlight squarely on their back.
The Coach: Travis Green’s Tough Love—Does It Still Work?
Green made his mark right away in Ottawa, demanding conditioning, strict accountability, and a no-nonsense attitude. His players knew where they stood.
The results? A playoff berth and a system that finally tightened up the defensive lapses that plagued the team for years. But there’s a growing undercurrent of speculation: Is Green’s hard-edged style sustainable over the long haul?
Some insiders suggest he may need to ease up to keep the locker room fresh. Word around the rink is that the front office could bring in a more tactical assistant—likely with a defensive or special-teams focus—to fine-tune the system and help share the load. It’s not about turning Green into a players’ coach; it’s about evolving his approach as expectations rise.
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Fans know he can push his team to compete, but can he also push them to thrive?
The General Manager: Staios’ Silent Shuffle—Is a Trade Brewing?
Since stepping into the GM role full-time, Staios has been walking a tightrope: build for now, but don’t mortgage the future. So far, he’s threaded the needle well. Acquiring Linus Ullmark shored up Ottawa’s goaltending in a big way, and flipping Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker for Dylan Cozens gave the team another young, cost-controlled piece up front.
More to come? There’s chatter that Staios is sniffing around for a gritty middle-six winger—someone who can chip in offensively and play a heavy game. The Sens could use that versatility, especially if depth scoring dries up early. Then there’s the blue line: can moving strength help address a need, especially if a deal makes financial sense? Staios has shown he’s not afraid to shuffle the deck.
The Captain: Tkachuk Temperature Check—Hot Rumours, Cold Reality
Let’s get this out of the way: Tkachuk isn’t going anywhere. Despite endless speculation—especially from large U.S. markets—there’s no real traction on a Tkachuk trade. Staios has called the rumours “soft tampering.” Senators’ ownership publicly shut them down, and Brady himself seems locked in for the long haul.
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But here’s why fans keep buzzing: according to multiple league insiders, Ottawa did “kick the tires” last year to gauge Tkachuk’s market value. Not because they wanted to move him, but because every team does due diligence on its core. That’s just smart business.
And let’s face it—Brady is still Brady. The team leader in all facets, he’s the heartbeat of the room, and his gritty, emotional style defines the group’s identity. Unless something seismic happens, he’s not going anywhere. But in a cap world, the conversation around big-money players never totally disappears.
What to Watch Next: Questions Facing the Senators This Fall
With training camp just around the corner, there are plenty of questions about the Senators’ leadership to keep fans glued to their timelines. First, will Green adapt his approach in Year 2? If new faces start appearing on the coaching staff, or if the lines look more experimental in camp, that might be a sign the staff is evolving.
Second, does Staios pull the trigger on a depth trade? With cap flexibility and some attractive assets, if a third-line winger or defensive piece becomes available, we shouldn’t be surprised to see action before opening night.
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Third, who steps up even higher in 2025–26? Jake Sanderson, Tim Stützle, and Shane Pinto all look poised to elevate. But the team’s ceiling may depend on how quickly the next wave—players like Ridly Greig and Tyler Kleven—find their footing. One thing’s clear: this is no longer a team hoping for respect. The Senators are expected to be in the mix. In a division as brutal as the Atlantic, that means every detail matters—on the ice, behind the bench, and in the front office.
The Bottom Line for the Senators This Season
This might be the most important season for the Senators in a decade. They’ve got a playoff-calibre roster, a captain who bleeds the logo, and a front office willing to make moves. But success in the NHL doesn’t wait for anyone. If Ottawa wants to be more than a one-hit playoff wonder, it’s going to take more than talent—it’s going to take timing, chemistry, and just the right gamble at the right time.
Buckle up, Sens fans.
[Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
