Eugene Melnyk, the former owner of the Ottawa Senators, had unwavering faith in his team. He boldly and openly declared that Ottawa would once again become a playoff contender. This strong belief was a defining characteristic of Melnyk, making him a notable figure in the hockey world. Until his passing, he remained steadfast in his conviction that Ottawa would rise to prominence again.
In 2020, Melnyk confidently stated, “I truly believe that we are capable of winning the Stanley Cup within four years. It could happen sooner, but definitely within that timeframe.”
This declaration was audacious and perfectly reflected Melnyk`s personality. At that time, the Senators had not participated in the playoffs since their Game 7 defeat in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. The team experienced a sharp decline, transitioning from being on the verge of the Stanley Cup Final to enduring consecutive losing seasons.
Melnyk supported his ambitious words with a comprehensive plan, reportedly 112 pages long, developed in collaboration with then-General Manager Pierre Dorion. This plan outlined how Ottawa would reach the high standard Melnyk had set. They were prepared to invest up to the salary cap to achieve his vision.
The specifics of this plan remain largely unknown to the public. However, it is clear that Ottawa initially fell significantly short of Melnyk`s aspirations.
For seven years, the Senators faced challenges. There were moments of optimism and periods of disappointment. But now, finally, they have achieved a breakthrough.
The Ottawa Senators have officially reclaimed their status as playoff contenders, securing the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference on Sunday.
Their qualification wasn`t particularly graceful; it was confirmed after a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, due to the Montreal Canadiens` victory over the Detroit Red Wings on the same night, the Senators clinched their playoff berth regardless.
As they say, the details of how you get there don`t always matter.
But genuinely, how did the Senators achieve this turnaround? It`s a complex story, but several crucial factors propelled Ottawa to this point, bringing them closer to realizing Melnyk`s prediction of a championship-caliber future.
General Manager Steve Staios commented on reaching the postseason, “It`s a significant first step for this team. I am genuinely excited for our players. From the very beginning of training camp, their motivation was evident.”
THE SENATORS did not return to the playoffs before Melnyk`s passing in 2022. Dorion, who joined the Senators just before their successful conference finals run, also did not manage to guide Ottawa back to the postseason before his dismissal in 2023.
Ottawa`s descent from Eastern Conference contenders to bottom-dwellers was perplexing. The Senators finished the 2017-18 season in 30th place, signaling the start of a rapid rebuild. Erik Karlsson, their top defenseman, was traded to San Jose in September 2018, before a dismal season that led to the departure of Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel. These three veteran players were all traded by the 2019 trade deadline. By March 2019, the Senators were in last place, and head coach Guy Boucher was fired. Ottawa was in desperate need of change.
DJ Smith became Ottawa`s head coach for the 2019-20 season, tasked with revitalizing the young Senators. Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson were already part of the team, and by 2020, Ottawa had drafted Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson in the first round.
In 2022, Dorion intensified the rebuild efforts by trading for Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot, and signing free agent Claude Giroux to strengthen the Senators` playoff prospects. However, Ottawa missed the playoffs the following season by six points.
DeBrincat, however, had made up his mind. He informed the Senators he was not interested in signing a long-term contract, leading Dorion to trade him to Detroit. Talbot was also not retained. The Senators were suddenly experiencing significant turnover from all directions. Following Melnyk`s death in 2022, the franchise was sold to businessman Michael Andlauer in June 2023, marking the beginning of a new era. However, the transition was not smooth.
Early in the 2023-24 season, Ottawa received a reprimand from the league and was penalized a first-round draft pick due to an invalidated 2021 trade involving Evgenii Dadonov and the Anaheim Ducks. This penalty resulted in Dorion losing his job in November 2023. Staios, then president of hockey operations for Ottawa, assumed the GM responsibilities as well.
Amidst this off-ice turmoil, the Senators` on-ice performance was poor. Their dismal 11-15 record led to Smith`s dismissal in December. He was replaced by Jacques Martin, a former coach and team advisor. Despite the Senators` wealth of young talent, they regressed again, finishing seventh in the Atlantic Division.
Three key philosophical changes then occurred, propelling them from the bottom to the playoffs, with the long-term belief that this is only the start of a new era of contention.
Ottawa Trusted the Process
Tim Stutzle was candid after the Senators secured their playoff spot, likely voicing the thoughts of many of his teammates.
“We`ve been through some tough times here,” Stutzle said after the loss to Columbus. “Some really tough years. I`m incredibly proud of the guys, how we`ve all stuck together. I don`t think any team deserves this more than us. I believe we`ve worked exceptionally hard this year.”
Ottawa`s current success is made more meaningful by their recent struggles.
When Thomas Chabot joined the Senators in 2016-17, they had only missed the playoffs four times since 1996-97. The young defenseman anticipated many playoff appearances in his NHL career. Instead, it took over 500 games before Chabot was guaranteed his first taste of postseason hockey.
“You won`t see me smiling much after a loss,” Chabot joked upon securing their playoff berth, “but honestly, it feels incredible.”
Brady Tkachuk can relate. The Senators` captain has played over 500 professional games and accumulated more than 400 points. He has strived to lead Ottawa to the playoffs in previous seasons, only to fall short. Tkachuk`s dedication to the Senators has never wavered, which he reaffirmed when trade rumors surfaced earlier this season.
In early February, as the Senators were climbing the standings, media reports linked Tkachuk to the New York Rangers.
Andlauer was reportedly upset, even suggesting an investigation into the Rangers for potential tampering with Ottawa`s star forward. Tkachuk responded on the ice, continuing to lead the Senators. However, the situation created unnecessary distraction for the team, contradicting their internal focus on leveraging their young core to achieve a playoff return.
However, these young talents could not succeed alone. Veterans like Giroux and David Perron have been crucial in supporting the team`s development with essential leadership. Giroux, since joining as a free agent in 2022, has demonstrated his continued high level of play, scoring 35 goals and 79 points the following season. The 35-year-old remains a significant contributor to Ottawa`s offense and provides stability during challenging periods.
“Some games we might not have been at our best, but we`ve found ways to win,” Giroux stated. “When you can win even when you`re not playing your best, it`s a positive sign. You can sense that everyone is committed to playing the right way. It`s enjoyable to play like that.”
Giroux also brings valuable playoff experience, although his postseason appearances have been limited in the past decade. Since the 2012-13 season with Philadelphia, Giroux has reached the playoffs only five times, most recently with Florida in 2021-22. He is still seeking his first Stanley Cup.
Perron won a Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and reached the Cup Final with Vegas the year before. He understands what it takes to reach the highest level. While it`s uncertain if the Senators will go all the way this year, taking this initial step towards their ultimate goal is a vital part of Ottawa`s progression.
“I`ve experienced winning,” Perron said, “but I see guys like Claude and many others who haven`t. You want to achieve it for them. You want them to experience a playoff run and share that with the younger players.”
Ottawa gradually and steadily positioned themselves for this opportunity. The difficult years have strengthened the team`s key players. They will not take this chance for granted and hope to make playoff contention a regular occurrence.
Ottawa Found the Right Coach
The Senators needed a fresh voice to complement their new owner and general manager. Travis Green, hired in May 2024, became that leader.
Green quickly recognized that Ottawa was prepared to leave their losing past behind.
“From day one, they were receptive and eager to win,” Green said. “They are open to coaching, which is team-wide. That`s not always the case.”
Green`s coaching history included a full-time head coaching role with the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021 and an interim position with the New Jersey Devils in the 2023-24 season.
He referred to the Senators` coachability following their most challenging period of the season – a 5-8-1 stretch in November that could have derailed their playoff aspirations.
“That period was crucial for our season,” Green explained. “It`s one thing to say you`re open to coaching, but it`s another to act on it. It involves having honest conversations and players being willing to hear feedback, even if it`s not what they want to hear. There are always areas in every player’s game that need improvement. They need to acknowledge it and work to improve.”
In turn, Green has earned praise from Ottawa`s management for his leadership.
“Travis`s vision and his ability to coach this team, transforming them from where they were last year to playing playoff-caliber hockey, is significant,” Staios noted.
Green`s impact lies in shifting Ottawa`s mindset and implementing a winning structure, bringing their playoff vision to reality. Staios knew Green could guide the Senators toward winning. While many coaches can strategize, Green`s unique strength is how players have embraced and applied his message, ultimately changing the course for Ottawa.
“I know how much they want to win,” Green said. “Playoffs aren`t guaranteed, but being around this team, I genuinely felt they were ready to take the next step. Now, we`ve arrived.”
Ottawa Fixed Their Defense and Goaltending
This was the Senators` masterpiece: a complete commitment to improving their defensive game.
Playoff contention required Ottawa to excel on both ends of the ice. Green provided the strategy, and the players executed it.
“I`ve learned a lot from Coach Green, particularly about the defensive aspects,” Tkachuk mentioned. “It`s clear now when he points out our mistakes and how to correct them.”
Again, patience was key for Ottawa. They didn`t begin the season as a defensive powerhouse. Ottawa started with an 11-12-2 record, ranking 26th overall and eighth in goals against per game (3.20).
Emotions were high, sometimes overflowing. But Green maintained his approach and supported his players as they learned his system. Green`s confidence in turning Stutzle, Tkachuk, and others into complete players reflected his belief in their potential. The Senators` core simply needed to commit.
“He has a unique way of being demanding and holding players accountable,” Staios said of Green, “while also building relationships and fostering honest communication.”
Eventually, Ottawa made significant progress. In the subsequent 25 games from early December through January, the Senators showed defensive improvement, going 15-8-2 and allowing the second-fewest goals per game in the league (2.20).
Overall, Ottawa has shown dramatic improvement. They decreased their goals allowed per game at 5-on-5 from 2.34 last season to just 1.84 this season. The Senators have 21 wins this season when being outshot by their opponents, ranking fourth-most in the NHL, exceeding their combined total from the previous two seasons.
Solid defense was crucial as Ottawa couldn`t always rely on offense to win games. The Senators are ranked 22nd in scoring this season (2.89 goals per game) and 30th in even-strength goals (131). Their 15th-ranked power play (22.8%) has been helpful at times.
Regardless, Green is establishing a sustainable system in Ottawa, not just a short-term fix. This is the foundation for the Senators to become a team that expects a playoff run annually. Ottawa`s defensive improvement is due to Green, the forwards` commitment, and finally, reliable goaltending.
Ottawa cycled through numerous goalies during their seven-year playoff drought. Craig Anderson had the most starts (133) before leaving in 2020. Failed experiments included Matt Murray and Talbot. Anton Forsberg (130 starts) tried to fill the void, and Joonas Korpisalo had a brief, unsuccessful stint.
The turning point came in June when Ottawa acquired Linus Ullmark from Boston. Ullmark quickly signed a four-year extension, committing to the organization.
Ullmark, a Vezina Trophy winner in 2023 and co-recipient of the William M. Jennings Trophy with Jeremy Swayman, became available because Boston chose to build around Swayman. Interestingly, the Senators are in the playoffs this season, while Boston is positioned for a top-5 draft pick.
Despite injury setbacks, Ullmark has been a reliable presence in net, a significant upgrade for Ottawa. Last season, the Senators had a combined .879 save percentage. This season, Ullmark has a 24-14-3 record with a .911 SV% and a 2.67 goals-against average, the third-most wins for a goalie in his first full season with Ottawa. Ullmark has also been a strong partner for Forsberg, who has also improved this season (10-12-2, .904 SV% and 2.66 GAA).
Now, Ullmark wants the Senators` goalie tandem to excel in the playoffs. He remembers long playoff droughts from his seven years with Buffalo. While he experienced postseason hockey with Boston for three years, he empathizes with Ottawa teammates who are just reaching this stage.
“I`m happy for the guys who have been here a long time,” Ullmark said, “like Chabot and Tkachuk, who have been here the longest, to finally have the opportunity to play meaningful games and compete for the Cup.”
Ottawa might not win the Stanley Cup this season, or in the near future. The crucial point is they are now officially in contention. That`s all Chabot wanted when he joined Ottawa – to be a participant, not an observer, of late spring hockey.
For the Senators, that dream has finally materialized.
