Ottawa Senators face uphill battle after Tkachuk departure

Brady Tkachuk’s trade to the Florida Panthers removed Ottawa’s captain and primary source of grit weeks before the 2026-27 campaign begins.

Tkachuk exit creates leadership void

The Senators acquired William Eklund from San Jose and Andre Burakovsky from Chicago to offset the loss, yet neither matches Tkachuk’s combination of 30-plus goals and physical edge in recent seasons. Ottawa posted nearly identical regular-season records in the prior two campaigns but fell in a first-round sweep to Carolina in the 2026 playoffs. The absence of Tkachuk’s intangibles shifts the roster toward skill without the same identity.

Claude Giroux agreed to return on a veteran contract, providing continuity at center, but the 38-year-old cannot replicate the 25-year-old Tkachuk’s net-front presence. Florida’s acquisition of the former captain immediately strengthened their top-six forward group ahead of their own title defense. Ottawa’s front office prioritized draft capital and roster balance over retaining the face of the franchise.

Daniel Alfredsson’s departure to serve as associate coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs compounds the summer’s setbacks for the organization. The Hall of Famer had spent three seasons on Ottawa’s bench before opting for the rival club on July 7, 2026. Senators supporters viewed the move as particularly painful given the historical rivalry.

Goaltending depth remains thin

Linus Ullmark enters 2026-27 as the projected starter after posting inconsistent results in his first Ottawa season. The club added Samuel Ersson from Philadelphia via Toronto, whose save percentage declined from .890 in 51 games during 2023-24 to .883 in 47 games in 2024-25 and .870 in 33 games last season. Backup Leevi Merilainen recorded an .860 save percentage and 3.51 goals-against average across 20 appearances in 2025-26.

Merilainen had shown promise with a .925 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average in 12 games during 2024-25, but the 23-year-old lacks the workload experience required for a full NHL season. General manager Steve Staios holds $4.1 million in projected cap space yet may elect to retain flexibility rather than sign an established netminder. The Senators’ goaltending tandem therefore carries elevated risk entering training camp.

Atlantic Division intensifies competition

Ottawa returns to a division projected to feature stronger contenders across the board after last season’s results. The Senators finished with a comparable point total to their prior campaign yet exited the playoffs earlier than expected. Adding Eklund and Burakovsky supplies secondary scoring, but the roster lacks proven depth scoring behind the top line.

Staios could deploy remaining cap space to address in-season needs rather than overcommitting now. Younger core players must elevate their production to offset the leadership changes. Without those internal improvements, Ottawa projects as a bubble team rather than a top seed.

The Atlantic’s increased parity reduces margin for error in October and November scheduling. Ottawa’s path to a third consecutive playoff appearance now requires Ullmark to deliver above-average results while the new acquisitions integrate quickly.