The Ottawa Senators are heading into the 2026-27 season with a fresh look and plenty of curiosity around how far this young group can go. With the opener coming Saturday, there’s no shortage of bold ideas about what this year could hold.
One of the biggest swings is William Eklund landing at 70 points. Ottawa brought him in over the summer to help replace Brady Tkachuk’s production, and early signs have been encouraging.
He’s already clicked in preseason with Fabian Zetterlund and Dylan Cozens, and his value is less about pure finishing and more about getting others into attack mode. That matters in this lineup, where Cozens, Zetterlund, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stützle all have the kind of shot-first ability that can tilt games.
Stützle, Batherson, and Cozens have each hit 30 goals in a season before, and Eklund’s setup game could help unlock more of that. He also looks set for a spot on the top power-play unit and should see more ice with better linemates than he had in San Jose, where he was often stuck on the Sharks’ third line with Alex Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli rather than alongside a player like Macklin Celebrini.
At 23, there’s still plenty of room for him to climb.
The goaltending outlook is another eye-catching prediction: Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson combining for a save percentage above .910. Ullmark said in his most recent interview that the club now has a heavy Swedish presence, including Ersson, his new partner in net.
Ullmark appears to be starting this season in a better headspace, and the expectation here is that he bounces back in a big way after last year’s numbers, which are viewed as a statistical outlier. The projection has him playing a career-high 55 games, with Ersson taking the other 29.
Ersson’s first year in Ottawa comes with real pressure after underwhelming results with the Philadelphia Flyers, but the Senators’ defensive structure could give him a cleaner runway. He has also shown he can rise to the occasion internationally, going 7-1 for Team Sweden with a .943 SV%.
Then there’s Ridly Greig, who could become a trade name before long. His role has bounced around over the past few seasons, and early line combinations have him starting at fourth-line center.
That comes after stretches where he’s been used as a top-six winger, third-line center, and bottom-six winger. He’ll also begin the season serving a two-game suspension tied to last year’s playoffs.
Greig’s offense has leveled off after seasons of 34 and 35 points, but his defensive work and irritating edge still make him valuable. That’s exactly why other teams could come calling.
He’s in the second year of a four-year, $3.25 million contract, and with Ottawa’s bottom six packed with depth, he could be the kind of piece the Senators move if the return is right.
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Head coach Travis Green has already indicated Burakovsky is unlikely to be ready for the regular-season opener, and the timing is what makes this so tricky for Ottawa. Opening-night line combinations are still being sorted out, and a player who was expected to claim a meaningful top-six role is now battling against the clock while the Senators wait for clarity on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Marchenkos Toronto Debut Already Carries Pressure Ottawa Fans Will Notice
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For Ottawa fans watching a division rival add another dangerous forward, the quick debut only adds to the sense that Toronto is trying to squeeze value from the move right away. Marchenko and his agent Dan Milstein have framed the transition as a motivator, and Leafs coach Jim Hiller said the new arrival is already working through the adjustment, leaving the next step of his fit in Toronto as the part everyone will keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Why Senators Chose Thomas Chabot For Their New Era
The Senators have moved into a new chapter with Thomas Chabot now carrying the captains C after being named the 11th captain in franchise history. Ottawa turned to the longtime defenseman after trading former captain Brady Tkachuk, and the decision gives the team a familiar face at the center of its next phase. Chabot, a first-round pick in 2015 and a former alternate captain, is set to debut in the role when the season opens.
Head coach Travis Green recently praised Chabots leadership and dedication, a reflection of how much trust the organization has placed in him as it resets around a different core. The choice also underscores the Senators belief that Chabots voice and presence fit the moment, even as the team begins to define what this new era will look like on and off the ice. [Read more 🡒]