Ottawa Senators

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Senators' 2025–26 season was defined by a dramatic recovery and a devastating injury crisis. After dropping to a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference from December through January, the team rallied. Goaltender Linus Ullmark took a personal leave, and backup Leevi Merilainen struggled, prompting the signing of veteran free agent James Reimer, who stabilized the position. The team's penalty kill struggled, leading to a mid-season coaching change from Nolan Baumgartner to Mike Yeo. At the March trade deadline, the team traded David Perron to the Detroit Red Wings for a 2026 fourth-round pick and acquired Warren Foegele from the Los Angeles Kings. Foegele scored in his first game with the Senators, playing on the fourth line with Lars Eller and Fabian Zetterlund. Later in March, the NHL announced the Senators would regain a 2026 first-round draft pick (the last in the round) after paying a US$1 million fine, resolving a dispute over the Evgenii Dadonov trade. The team's playoff hopes were nearly derailed by a catastrophic string of injuries to its defencemen: Nick Jensen (knee, season-ending), Jake Sanderson (upper body, six weeks), Dennis Gilbert (upper body), Thomas Chabot (fractured right arm), Lassi Thomson (injured in the same game as Chabot), and Carter Yakemchuk (concussion). Chabot returned to the lineup against the Panthers on April 9, only two weeks after surgery that required two plates and screws, wearing extra protective equipment. He had not been expected to return until a possible second round.

In Their Own Story

The Senators clinched their second straight postseason berth on April 11, 2026, with both a win against the New York Islanders and a loss by the Detroit Red Wings against the New Jersey Devils. It was their first time making the playoffs in consecutive years since the 2012–13 season. As the second wild-card team, they faced the division champion and conference leader Carolina Hurricanes. In Game 1, the Hurricanes played tight defensively and shut out the Senators 2-0. In Game 2, the Hurricanes built a two-goal lead before the Senators tied the game, only to lose 3–2 in the second overtime period. Back at home in Game 3, the Senators drew many penalties but could not score on the power play and lost 2-1. In Game 4, the game was tied into the third period before the Hurricanes scored on the power play to take the lead. The game ended 4–2, ending the Senators' season. Highlights for the Senators included the play of goaltender Linus Ullmark and forward Drake Batherson. The injury woes continued, with Artem Zub lost in Game 1 and Jake Sanderson in Game 3. Top forwards Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk were shut down by the Hurricanes, and neither scored, although both hit the post and crossbar. The Senators held the Hurricanes to only two power play goals in the series, but only scored two power play goals themselves.

Reader's Guide

The 2025–26 season was marked by several key business and roster moves. In August 2025, a land sale agreement for the LeBreton Flats site was signed with the NCC, a step toward building a new downtown arena. The team introduced a new third jersey, worn at four 'Ignite The Red' home games, featuring a red base, a modified logo chest crest with enhanced embroidery, black and gold trim on the shoulders and arms, a different font for player names and numbers, and the Senators 'S' secondary logo on the shoulders. In October 2025, bookies.com ranked the Senators as the lowest-cost NHL arena for a family of four (US$182 average, below the NHL average of US$304). In February 2026, it was announced the Senators would play the Montreal Canadiens in the Kraft Hockeyville Game in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, celebrating the 2025 winner Saint-Boniface, Quebec. In April 2026, the team renewed its broadcast deal with Bell Media (TSN, RDS, TSN 1200) for a 12-year term. In the off-season, the Senators traded for defenceman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings. They did not offer contracts to goaltender Anton Forsberg, forwards Adam Gaudette, Matthew Highmore, and Angus Crookshank, and defenceman Travis Hamonic, all of whom became unrestricted free agents. The team signed veteran centre Lars Eller as a free agent and traded Zack MacEwen to New Jersey for Kurtis MacDermid. Restricted free agent defenceman Maxence Guenette held out and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in November 2025 for Dennis Gilbert. At the 2025 NHL entry draft, the Senators selected Bruno Idzan, the first Croatian-born player drafted, and two Russian players, their first since 2005. Blake Vanek, son of former NHL player Thomas Vanek, was also selected.

Did You Know?

• The Senators qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season, their first time in consecutive years since the 2012–13 season.
• The team lost six defencemen to injury during the regular season, including Thomas Chabot who returned to the lineup only two weeks after surgery that required two plates and screws.
• The Senators' new third jersey for the 2025–26 season features a red base, black and gold trim, and a modified logo chest crest with enhanced embroidery.
• In October 2025, the Senators were ranked the lowest-cost NHL arena for a family of four at an average of US$182, well below the NHL average of US$304.
• Bruno Idzan became the first Croatian-born player selected in the NHL entry draft when the Senators chose him in 2025.