The Ottawa Senators wrapped up five preseason games with a look at three of their biggest summer additions, and each one offered a different kind of reason for optimism.
That sample was never going to be clean. Ottawa played three games against the Montreal Canadiens and two against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with four of those contests coming as split-squad matchups.
On top of that, injuries forced the Senators to piece together lineups that never really resembled an opening-night roster. Even so, it was still a useful chance to see Samuel Ersson, Andre Burakovsky, and William Eklund in action.
Ersson got the nod twice, both times against Montreal. When Ottawa acquired him, plenty of people questioned the move after the year he had last season.
In preseason action, though, he looked like a steady option in net. He took both losses, allowing three goals in one outing and four in the other, but the support in front of him was usually getting outplayed anyway.
What stood out most was how composed he looked. Ersson was aggressive in challenging shooters, used his 6’3 frame well to shrink the net, and moved laterally with control.
He didn’t get caught overplaying pucks, and he stayed in good position more often than not. There were a couple he probably wants back, including the game-tying goal in game one, but the overall impression was positive.
He looks like an upgrade in the backup role from what Ottawa had last season, and his workload with the Philadelphia Flyers suggests he can handle more than the average second-string goalie.
Burakovsky came into camp with a few more raised eyebrows attached to his name. Ottawa acquired him to play in the top six, but his production over the past few seasons, along with his higher-priced contract and no retention from the Chicago Blackhawks, left plenty of people skeptical. Still, the Senators are the first team expected to make the playoffs that he has played for since the 2022-23 Seattle Kraken, and he spent most of the preseason skating beside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson.
He fit better than many expected. Burakovsky didn’t look lost at all in that role, and his offensive game showed the kind of creativity Ottawa was clearly betting on.
Against Montreal on Saturday evening, he drove the net down the right-side wall and then slipped a backhand pass to Carter Yakemchuk for the finish. He uses deception well, creates space with subtle movement, and has the skating to keep pace with Stützle.
After finishing with 3 points in two games and consistently pushing the play forward, he may have given Stützle and Batherson a real boost.
Eklund may have had the most expectation attached to him entering camp. Ottawa brought him in as a forward replacement for their ex-captain, and he arrived with a reputation as a smart, fast, defensively responsible player.
The assumption was that he’d slot next to Stützle, and he also reunited with Fabian Zetterlund, his old linemate and good friend, with whom he had strong chemistry. Travis Green had different plans at the start, though, and Eklund opened alongside Dylan Cozens.
That trio settled in quickly. Cozens, Eklund, and Zetterlund found chemistry fast and showed it repeatedly throughout the preseason.
Eklund looked like exactly the kind of player Ottawa wanted: quick, adaptable, and able to mesh with his linemates. His shot also stood out more than expected.
He scored goals in several games, and his release gave defenders something else to worry about. Just as important, his vision and hockey sense were obvious throughout camp, and that could help Cozens get closer to the 30-goal mark.
The broader takeaway from Ottawa’s preseason is simple enough: all three additions look like upgrades over the players who occupied those spots a year ago. If Ersson settles in behind a stronger defensive structure, he could push above a .900 save percentage.
Burakovsky is suddenly playing with the most skilled teammates he’s had in years, which could help him rediscover the point totals that made him such an appealing target. Eklund, meanwhile, joins a team that needs his exact blend of speed and skill, and career highs are expected from him this season.
For the Senators, the preseason gave a clear first look at what those three can bring. If they carry that level into the regular season, Ottawa will be in good shape.
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Senators Blue-Line Decision Signals Where Ottawa Is Headed
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Where that leaves the back end is a little clearer now, even if the full depth chart is still being finalized. Ottawa has moved on from Huttons PTO, leaving Nikolas Matinpalo in position as the extra defenseman and signaling that the Senators are leaning toward younger internal options as they map out their next step on defense. [Read more 🡒]