The Ottawa Senators will open their 2026-27 regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 3, and they do so after an offseason that featured one of the biggest moves imaginable: trading away former captain Brady Tkachuk.
That kind of shake-up puts the spotlight squarely on the players expected to carry more of the load, and William Eklund is right near the top of that list. The new forward is projected to be a key piece of Ottawa’s group up front as the Senators try to push for a third straight playoff berth.
Eklund arrives with real momentum behind him. In 2025-26 with the San Jose Sharks, he put up 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games.
The season before that, he finished with 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games. Those numbers show a player who has already found a steady NHL scoring touch, but there still looks to be another level available.
That possibility is what makes Eklund so intriguing for Ottawa. The 2021 seventh-overall pick is still only 23 years old and has played just 252 NHL games, which leaves plenty of room for growth. A change of scenery can also give a player a boost, and Eklund is expected to get every chance to make an impact in the Senators’ top six.
If he can turn that opportunity into a true offensive jump and become at least a 70-point player, it would go a long way for a Senators team trying to establish itself as a legitimate threat this season. Replacing Tkachuk’s production is part of that equation, and Eklund could become a major piece of that answer.
That is why he stands out as one of Ottawa’s biggest X-factors heading into the season. If he blossoms into a legitimate star, the Senators’ ceiling in the Eastern Conference rises with him. Eklund is the kind of player worth watching closely all year long for the Atlantic Division club.
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Senators Suddenly Have A Top-Six Problem Right Before Opening Night
Andre Burakovsky was supposed to help stabilize Ottawas top six heading into the season, but that plan has taken an immediate hit. The winger went down with an upper-body injury in a preseason game against Montreal and has not been back on the ice since, leaving the Senators with one fewer established option as opening night approaches.
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
Kirill Marchenkos first night with the Toronto Maple Leafs came fast, with the winger stepping into the lineup for the home opener after being traded and jumping straight into a new environment. He still managed to make an immediate impression, picking up an assist and putting multiple shots on goal while lining up on the left side, a notable change from the right wing role he has usually occupied.
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 🡒]