OTTAWA — So, I guess we learned this summer in Ottawa that beloved captains leave the Senators in heart-wrenching fashion.
All the Brady Tkachuk drama is done, and now Daniel Alfredsson is, somehow, a Toronto Maple Leaf. It’s even more painful than usual for a Senators fanbase that’s all-too-accustomed to heartbreak at this point.
That’s why we felt there was no better time to say farewell, and to conclude the season, with questions from you, the readers.
We appreciate all your support; it’s been such a privilege to cover my hometown team for Sportsnet.
Thanks for the questions! Might as well start off with the residue of the Tkachuk departure, although Alfredsson’s is just as raw.
I do believe that Tkachuk will be the most vilified Senators departure since Alexei Yashin, and arguably more so. He was the captain of a contending team, only to decide to hamstring it by forcing his way to play with his brother on a division rival. It wasn’t about completely about winning, or a contract dispute. It also would be fair to say he wasn’t fully locked in down the stretch last season. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported there was some strife in the Senators locker room.
“Post-Olympics, a lot was going on, the players were tired of it. I did have someone (on the Senators) reach out to me, one of their players (said that) the podcast (Wingmen) caused some problems,” Friedman said.
Firsthand, being in the room, I know the drama that surrounded Tkachuk from Team USA to the podcast comments was a nuisance that drained everyone in the organization. They played it down, but it was palpable. It’s clear that the rest of the core was ready to move on, and Tkachuk wanted to be gone. I keep thinking about Tim Stutzle’s end-of-season availability in which he professed his enjoyment playing in a Canadian market. In hindsight, that comment feels like a shot at Tkachuk, whether it was intended or not.
If the Senators’ coming season is very calm, then Tkachuk’s negative effect on the team will look even clearer. Do I think the rest of the team hates Tkachuk? No. Do I think they were annoyed by him? Probably.
It’s been a tough time to be a Senators fan. After your captain leaves, your best-ever player and former captain, Alfredsson, departs the coaching staff to join the archrival Toronto Maple Leafs in a stunning and heartbreaking move.
Alfredsson wearing a Leafs logo feels unnatural. However, he’ll be an associate coach, which is a promotion from his assistant-coach position in Ottawa. Also, Alfredsson has massive ties to fellow Swede and Maple Leafs senior adviser Mats Sundin, which is likely why he is crossing the Battle-of-Ontario rubicon. As I reported Tuesday, Alfredsson interviewed for Toronto’s top job; there’s a pathway to believe he could be a head coach one day. As a pure career decision, it makes sense: a coaching promotion to work alongside a teammate with whom you won a gold medal.
On a hockey level, it does feel a little like a broken relationship. It’s not what Tkachuk did, and Alfredsson’s legacy will likely be fine — except in the unlikely instance that he wins a Cup in Toronto. If Alfredsson went anywhere else, it would be easier to take. Still, the Senators do not want a strained relationship with Alfredsson, and he’s always welcome back — despite wearing blue and white.
Someone who wants to be in Ottawa! It’s clear Giroux batted his eyes at the Flyers, while Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs may have offered him more money. Ultimately, though, the hometown favourite stays in Ottawa.
Giroux isn’t the star he used to be, but he can be serviceable in the top six while bringing defensive aptitude, leadership and playmaking, all of which the team needs. The Senators forward group looks much cleaner with Giroux than without. Also, keeping Giroux is a good PR move for a team. Another interesting point is that with Giroux signing, the Senators will likely be spending to the cap.
Everyone wants to know about the captaincy! My best guess is that it’s Jake Sanderson. He’s a super low-maintenance guy who works harder than anyone and loves being a Senator. Also, he’s signed for the longest amount of time.
Both Tim Stutzle and Thomas Chabot also have a shot, and all three would be worthy captains. Stutzle is so fiery and loves Ottawa. Meanwhile, the veteran Chabot is the best with the media, but he’s only signed for two more seasons. If he stays beyond that, he deserves to be in the Ring of Honour. One of the best Senators ever. But a brief captaincy, like Jason Spezza’s, won’t cut it.
I think it’s a major issue, the abundance of no-trade clauses in the NHL. I do not begrudge the players their negotiating rights. At the same time, as Friedman said, Canadian teams bring in one-third of the league’s revenue. In the last seven Stanley Cup Finals, either a Florida team or Vegas has been represented. If every player asks to go to those locales, that’s an issue. Ultimately, players have one career and I get why they do what they do for taxes and weather, but winning cures all. I suggest you read Justin Bourne’s take on it.
I just keep thinking about Carter Yakemchuk. He’ll be 21 this season and it’s time for him to become an NHLer. The offensive talent is unquestionable, but whether he can defend and skate well enough is still up in the air. If Yakemchuk breaks out, it changes the whole complexion of the team.
Other things I’m curious about are how William Eklund fits in Ottawa’s top six, and how good will Dylan Cozens be — for Ottawa to retool away from Tkachuk, Cozens must elevate from a 25-goal, 60-point guy. Cozens’ uptick in points came when Tkachuk joined his side to finish the season.
If Linus Ullmark plays solidly, the Senators’ defensive scheme under head coach Travis Green should allow them to muster points most nights. Green’s done a superb job in Ottawa.
Staios is always scheming. The Senators’ second line frightens me even with Giroux, but you can always add at the trade deadline and they may be just two top-six forwards away from contention. Their blue line is very good.
I’ve been a Chabot skeptic, but I think he’s a wonderful second-pairing guy who moves the puck excellently despite lack of size and defensive awareness at times. Unreal human, too.
The Senators should try to target 2029 and 2030 to win. They’ll have all their centres still signed, plus Eklund. If they can extend Batherson and Artem Zub, that will be their window with Sanderson and Stutzle on bargain contracts. I think with their extra picks and team-friendly contracts, they are in a good position. A part of me would have liked to have kept the ninth pick, but Eklund is a top-six player, which they needed. All in all, next year is about seeing how good this core is without Tkachuk and assessing from there.
The Senators are fine, except maybe for Yakemchuk. All their guys are signed. I do wish they went after Mavrik Bourque, who was traded for second- and third-round picks. As a small-market team with cap space and picks moving forward, targeting restricted free agents is a smart way to accumulate talent. Do it.
I keep thinking about this. Eklund has to put up at least 55 points or so to be a success. Andre Burakovsky must get you close to 40 points, and Samuel Ersson needs to be league average, not unplayable like he was in Philadelphia.
Eklund is on the top line and first power-play unit. Burakovsky must be a second-line player, and Fabian Zetterlund will bounce between the second and fourth line. We will see if Eklund and Zetterlund’s power of friendship turns into production in Ottawa.
I talked to one very successful GM, who told me that working with a president complicates matters because that person is talking to the owner and could deflect responsibility for poor decisions. I’d like Staios to bolster his front office instead with more analytically driven people in addition to director of analytics Sean Tierney.
Batherson’s next contract should project to be between $9-10 million. And lastly, the Senators will take a step back but that doesn’t mean they’ll be poor — just that their ceiling to contend got further away with Tkachuk gone.
I think Burakovsky is a stopgap. I believe both Zub and Batherson would re-sign if they get the right price. Logan Hensler isn’t blocked, but his development was shaky last season, so the Senators need a big year from him at Wisconsin.
I think the Senators should be competitive around the wild-card fringes. Get saves and avoid injury, and they can make the playoffs. Expect a lot of 2-1 games.
The Senators should have a package available some time before the season.
I think this draft will help with the two first-round picks and three thirds. Slowly, the Senators have moved from the basement of prospect pipelines to a bottom-third prospect pool. Pierre Dorion and some porous drafts set the Senators back big time, but there is promise in Yakemchuk, Lucas Beckman and Stephen Halliday, so not all is lost.
From Zane on Bluesky: Who will score the damn goals for the team?
Defencemen? Kidding, ish. The Senators will need big outputs from their blue-liners, including Sanderson, Chabot, Yakemchuk and Jordan Spence. Eklund needs to hit, and Stutzle needs to become a 40-goal guy. Ottawa will struggle for offence at times.
From Brian T on Bluesky: Who do you see playing with Timmy? What do you forecast our lines being?
I’d like Stutzle to play with Eklund, because he can keep up.
Eklund-Stützle-GirouxBurakovsky-Cozens-BathersonGreig-Pinto-AmadioFoegele-Halliday-Zetterlund
I believe the Senators will ride with the three goalies as exposing Leevi Merilainen , a young goaltending prospect, onto waivers would be a mistake. Ullmark’s past injury history and his leave last season makes him unreliable to play 50-plus games, and he’s never done so. The Senators will see how camp and the start of the season go, but I love riding with three goaltenders because you never know who can get hot. The more options, the better.
Tweet less and try not to make snap decisions. Yes, I know I have that issue at times. Just realize that even when being online is part of your job, don’t make it your lifestyle. Also, when you treat people well, the world rewards you. I am not perfect by any means, but I try to be fair when I criticize and kind to everyone. Critique the game, not the human being.
