Revamped Top-Six Has Ottawa Senators Back In The Mix

Photo credits: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Atlantic Division in the National Hockey League is loaded with talented teams, and the Ottawa Senators finished in seventh place with just 73 points in 2021-22. The Senators had young skillful players up and down the lineup, but a lack of experience was costly. This past off-season, General Manager Pierre Dorion began the process of adding pieces to bring the Senators closer to a postseason berth. Dorion has been at the helm since 2016 with one playoff appearance. There was a sense of urgency with the club that made for a busy summer.

Dorion wanted to solidify the team’s core and signed several homegrown players to extensions. Captain Brady Tkachuk signed last October for seven years and $57.5 million right after winger Drake Batherson signed a six-year, $29.85 million deal in September of 2021. In July, the Sens re-signed leading goal scorer Josh Norris to an eight-year, $63.6 million contract. Top defenseman Thomas Chabot is also in the midst of an eight-year deal. And just this past month, Tim Stutzle, their 3rd overall pick from 2020, also signed an eight-year, $66.8 million contract.

The Senators were not done adding to the club, though. In July, Alex DeBrincat was acquired from Chicago for three draft picks. The 24-year-old is coming off a 41-goal season for the Blackhawks and gives the 26th-ranked team in goals scored a much-needed offensive threat. July was a busy month as Dorion signed hometown boy Claude Giroux to a three-year deal giving Ottawa a veteran center to help guide their young talent. Veteran goaltender Cam Talbot was added from Minnesota to replace Matt Murray.

Now the Senators have a chance to contend for a playoff berth, their first since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 with a more different nucleus of players. The newest addition of the Ottawa Senators is young, skilled, and exciting. And it all starts with a top-six forward group that will compete with some of the best forward groups in the East.

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Batherson combined for 69 goals last season, while the projected second line of DeBrincat-Norris-Giroux had 97 goals between them. Offensively, the Senators will have much more firepower this season and should have much more balance in the goal-scoring department. Even more impressive is that all six forwards are signed long-term except DeBrincat. The former second-round pick is in the last year of his contract, which pays him $6.4 million annually. The Michigan native will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season if a deal is not reached. DeBrincat is sure to get a substantial raise.

The fans of the Ottawa Senators are hopeful that the team can improve on their 73-point total from last year. The division is stacked with favorites Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Boston, but Ottawa may gain some ground this season with a group of former high draft picks ready to show they can be one of the top teams in the East. Thursday night begins a new era for Ottawa as they open against another young, up-and-coming divisional opponent in the Buffalo Sabres. Time for the Senators to get back to the postseason.

Season 4. Episode 29. The Offseason Begins. Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- Cam Neely gets defensive over drafting.- Don Sweeney wants a coach who can evolve offensively.- Sweeney says Bruins won't play young and exciting players until they earn their stripes.- Charlie Jacobs won't roll back the ticket increase.& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 29. The Offseason Begins.
  2. Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement
  3. Season 4. Episode 27. Losing, It's Called Bruins.
  4. Season 4. Episode 26. Is Swayman a Diva?
  5. Season 4. Episode 25. It's Not a Retool

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

NHL Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators with Line Combinations 4/26/2025

NHL Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators with Line Combinations 4/26/2025

NHL Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators with Line Combinations 4/26/2025

Read More

Opinion: Evaluating NHL Teams for the Greensboro Gargoyles Affiliation

Fans across the league are all asking the same question: ” Who will be the NHL affiliate for the Greensboro Gargoyles?” I am here to hopefully provide some insight. There are three teams without an ECHL affiliate for 2025-26: the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Carolina Hurricanes.  To more easily evaluate the three teams’ […]

Read More
Mitch Marner heading to the Leafs locker-room

Detroit Red Wings Free Agency: YzerPlan Would Accelerate with Addition of Mitch Marner

The Detroit Red Wings have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the ninth season in a row. Special teams was the one aspect of the game that held the team back throughout the 2024-25 season. Going into his seventh season as general manager of the team, the pressure is on general manager Steve Yzerman to […]

Read More