The Ottawa Senators are entering a new chapter. After trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, the organization now faces the difficult task of moving forward without one of the most important players in franchise history.
While general manager Steve Staios has quickly tried to reshape the roster, former Senators executive Pierre McGuire believes Ottawa could still have some major questions to answer.
Former Exec Raises Concerns About Post-Tkachuk Senators
Staios wasted little time trying to fill some of the holes left by Tkachuk’s departure. The Senators acquired top-six forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks and added veteran forward André Burakovsky and goaltender Samuel Ersson.
However, replacing Tkachuk is about more than simply replacing his offensive production.
The former Senators captain scored 22 goals and recorded 59 points in 60 games last season despite missing time with an injury. Ottawa also ranked eighth in the NHL in goals scored, making the loss of one of its top offensive players even more significant.
During a recent discussion on The Sick Podcast, McGuire said Ottawa’s power play could play a major role in helping the team offset the loss of Tkachuk’s offensive production. He also pointed to the difficult competition awaiting the Senators in the Atlantic Division.
“I think five teams from the Atlantic are gonna make it. I think three teams from the Metropolitan are gonna make it. And I think two of them are already established unless they get injuries in Carolina and Washington,” McGuire said.
McGuire believes Ottawa will need to find ways to consistently beat teams such as the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings if it hopes to stay in the playoff race. “I don’t know if they’re gonna have enough to be offensively to be better than Florida or to be better than Montreal, to be better than Tampa. I just don’t know. This is an exercise we’re gonna find out,” he added.
However, McGuire also pointed out one of Ottawa’s biggest strengths from last season. “But the one thing that Ottawa did last year… that was really good, they were really hard to play against.”
That identity could become even more important in the post-Tkachuk era.
Tkachuk brought more than just goals, points, and physicality to the Senators. He was also one of the team’s biggest emotional leaders, and Ottawa will now need others to step up and fill that role.
Staios, however, has indicated that the Senators may not be finished making moves. “We feel good about the work that we’ve done. There will be a secondary push that we will stay close to,” Staios said during an appearance on TSN 1200.
That suggests Ottawa could still make another addition before the start of the season.
The Senators also have more than $4 million in projected cap space, giving Staios some flexibility to add another forward or improve the roster elsewhere.
Replacing Tkachuk won’t be easy, but Ottawa has added young talent and veteran experience. The Senators will now rely on depth, their power play, and their physical identity to stay competitive.
Whether they have enough offensive firepower remains the biggest question.
