The Ottawa Senators are heading into the 2026-27 season with plenty of noise around them, and not much of it has been flattering. The usual chatter has leaned hard toward Florida, with the Panthers picked by some to bounce back to the Stanley Cup Final and the Tampa Bay Lightning viewed as the class of the Atlantic Division. Ottawa, meanwhile, has often been shoved below the playoff line in those projections.
That skepticism already looks shaky.
The Panthers are dealing with injury problems. The Lightning opened their season with a loss to the New York Rangers.
The Maple Leafs have looked a little iffy. And the Buffalo Sabres were outplayed by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It’s early - only a couple of days into the season - but there’s already a real sense that the Atlantic could be there for the taking, and the Senators have a legitimate chance to be part of that fight.
Ottawa’s offseason work only strengthens that case. The additions made by the front office, along with some additions by subtraction - “Hello, Brady” - should leave the Senators in position to push back into the playoff picture.
Still, this isn’t a team that can be stamped with certainty just yet. The Senators should be good in 2026-27, but how good remains the open question. Are they strong enough to grab one of the division’s top three spots, or are they headed for another wild card chase?
Right now, Ottawa sits in a strange place. The Senators are good and bad at the same time, at least on paper, and the only way to sort that out is to watch them play. Fans won’t know which version shows up until the games start counting.
There’s also not much reason to expect a step back based on the last two seasons. A regression would likely come only if the Sens were hit by a major injury wave, and that’s the kind of problem every team has to deal with sooner or later.
If Ottawa avoids that kind of irrational barrage of injuries, the bigger issue should be consistency. Show up every night, play a solid all-around game, and get decent goaltending, and the Senators should have a strong shot at securing a playoff spot.
What happens once they get there is a different conversation. That’s a question better saved for later in the season, when there’s more to work with and the postseason picture is clearer.
In Other News...
DeBrincat Just Put Detroit's Biggest Contract Decision Into Focus
Alex DeBrincats contract situation in Detroit has quickly become one of the more intriguing storylines around the league, and it has obvious ripple effects for Ottawa fans who watched him up close before his move to the Red Wings. The winger is in the final year of his deal and is reportedly seeking an extension in the range of $12 million to $14 million annually depending on term, a price tag that puts a spotlight on how aggressively Detroit wants to keep him in place.
For the Senators, the more immediate concern is on their own blue line, where Jake Sanderson is expected to miss at least two games because of a lingering injury. He has returned to Ottawa for testing, leaving the club to manage a gap on the road trip and potentially lean on familiar depth options if the absence stretches on. In the meantime, the latest wave of injury and contract news only adds to the sense that this stretch could force a few teams to make choices they would rather not face yet. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Buzz Could Quietly Matter To The Flames Soon
Edmontons latest trade chatter has some ripple effects across the Canadian market, even if nothing has been finalized. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer said the club could make a move before its next game against the Anaheim Ducks, and Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reported Edmonton has explored ways to swap from its defensive depth toward another forward after a cluster of injuries up front. The need appears to be short term, with no long-term absences expected, but it has still put the Oilers in a familiar spot of weighing roster balance against immediate help.
For Ottawa, the interest is less about Edmontons lineup card than about the kind of transaction that can reshape a division race without much warning. The discussion has centered on whether the Oilers use one of their extra defensemen to address the forward group, and the names being floated show just how fine the margins are around the back end. No deal has been announced, but if Edmonton does pull the trigger, it would be the sort of move the Senators watch closely because it could alter the competitive landscape fast. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Just Created A New Question On Defense
The Senators needed another body on the blue line, and Jorian Donovan got the call from Belleville to help steady things while injuries have thinned out the defense. The 22-year-old fifth-round pick has only two NHL games on his rsum, but he arrives with a solid AHL track record after putting up 21 points in 61 games last season, giving Ottawa a young option as it tries to navigate a short-handed stretch.
Donovans recall also adds another layer to a roster picture that is still in motion, with injured players working their way back and Ridly Greig close to returning from suspension. For Ottawa, the next move may not be the last one, as the club keeps sorting out how to patch the blue line now while leaving room for whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]