The Ottawa Senators’ first preseason test comes against a familiar opponent Monday night, and there’s no shortage of things to watch when the Montreal Canadiens come to town.
Rivalry games in the preseason have a way of getting a little extra bite, especially in the Atlantic Division, and this one should give fans an early look at several important camp battles and lineup possibilities.
One of the biggest questions revolves around the new-look line featuring William Eklund, Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund. Coming into the offseason, plenty of people expected Eklund to land alongside Tim Stutzle, but that hasn’t been the case so far.
Instead, he’s been skating with Cozens and Zetterlund, and the trio has shown real chemistry in camp. Zetterlund and Eklund already know how to click from their time together in San Jose, and Travis Green was aware of that connection.
The wrinkle here is Cozens, who brings a different kind of center to the mix. Green may see Eklund as the play-driver on that unit, the guy who sets the table for two finishers.
Cozens scored 28 goals last season, Zetterlund had 17 despite a reduced role, and Eklund’s passing ability has come up repeatedly during camp. That gives him plenty of options to work with if this line gets a real preseason run.
The Canadiens game may also offer Senators fans their first look at Samuel Ersson. According to Senators on-air host Jackson Starr, Ersson is expected to start.
Ottawa brought in the Swedish goalie from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason and gave him a two-year deal, hoping a change of scenery can help him reset. Last season with the Philadelphia Flyers was a rough one for Ersson, who finished third-worst in save percentage among goalies who played more than 10 games.
Even so, the Senators believe the tools are there, and this is a chance to see what he looks like with a fresh start.
Andre Burakovsky is another player worth tracking closely. Ottawa acquired him in the offseason in a trade that drew plenty of criticism, and the conversation around him has only intensified because of how uneven last season was.
He finished with 33 points in 75 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Burakovsky opened the year on fire with 22 points in his first 30 games before a concussion derailed everything.
He never really found that form again after that. His best season still goes back to 2021-22 with the Colorado Avalanche, when he posted 61 points.
If he can get anywhere near that version of himself in Ottawa, the Senators will take it.
Then there’s Carter Yakemchuk, who may have the most important season of anyone in this group. The 21-year-old defenseman is fighting for a regular role on the third pair, where Nikolas Matinpalo is also in the mix.
Yakemchuk’s offensive game has never been the issue. He moves the puck well and owns a heavy point shot, which gives him obvious upside.
The real test is on the defensive side. Belleville head coach Andrew Campbell said Yakemchuk made major progress there last season, and Senators fans already saw enough of the offensive package when he played in Ottawa.
Since he doesn’t need waivers to be sent down to Belleville, he’ll have to earn his spot the hard way if he wants to stay up.
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Senators Fans Are Saying Goodbye To One Of The Franchise's Pillars
Jacques Martin has been a familiar presence around the Senators for years, from his two coaching stints with the club to his more recent role as a senior advisor. He was also pressed back into service as interim head coach during the 2023-24 season, a reminder of how often Ottawa has leaned on his experience when the organization needed steadiness and perspective.
Now, the longtime coach is moving on from hockey operations, a notable shift for a figure who has been woven into so many different eras of the franchise. A club spokesperson confirmed Martin will still be around the organization in community initiatives, so while his day-to-day hockey role is ending, Ottawa supporters will not be saying goodbye entirely just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Claude Giroux Is Still Driving Something Ottawa Really Needs
Claude Giroux opened Senators camp doing exactly the sort of things Ottawa still leans on him for, and Travis Green clearly noticed. The 38-year-old veteran was in the middle of special teams work on the first day, still moving well enough to be paired with younger players like Stephen Halliday and Tyler Boucher, a reminder that his value goes well beyond the name on the back of the jersey.
Giroux also brings a layer of familiarity that matters in a room getting younger around him. His ties to Boucher run through the family connection with Tylers father, a former teammate, and that kind of bridge between eras is part of why Giroux remains so useful for the Senators as camp gets underway and the roster pieces start to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Batherson Just Gave Senators Fans Another Reason To Feel Good
Drake Batherson has been doing his part to keep the Senators connected with their fans, popping up in a social media video tied to the clubs latest outreach push and then headlining a busy appearance at Fan Fest outside Canadian Tire Centre. The team has leaned into that kind of lighter, more personal content lately, and Batherson has become an easy face for it because he gives the organization a familiar, approachable presence beyond the rink.
At Fan Fest, Batherson took part in a live Q&A and then stuck around to greet supporters who turned out for the event. It was the sort of public-facing moment that matters for a team trying to build momentum with its base, especially when the interaction feels genuine rather than scripted. The Senators have also been encouraging fans to send in their own stories, which fits the tone of a day built around making the audience feel a little closer to the team. [Read more 🡒]