3 burning questions Ottawa Senators must answer entering 2026 offseason
The Ottawa Senators lost in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Here are three questions to answer in the offseason.
The Ottawa Senators (44-27-11) snuck into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a wild card for the second consecutive season. Early on, they looked dead in the water, with an 18-15-5 record before the start of 2026. The Senators hit their stride by the end of the season, with an 18-6-4 record through the final three months of the season (Feb.
-Apr. 2026). The expectation was for them to bring that momentum into the playoffs, but instead, they were swept to the Carolina Hurricanes, who are the No.
1 seed in the Eastern Conference. More: Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj under fire after ‘heavy’ hit on Sabres’ Sam Carrick They seem to be in an elevated no-mans land right now; good enough to make the dance, but not good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup. A rough goaltending duo held them back from being better this past season, but management will have to find a way to break out of this funk in the 2026 offseason.
What’s the status with Brady Tkachuk? Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) reacts against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trade discourse surrounding the Senators’ captain, Brady Tkachuk.
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