As the Ottawa Senators cleared out their lockers this week, the air in the Canadian Tire Centre carried a familiar blend of disappointment and determination. For the seventh consecutive season, our beloved Sens will be watching the playoffs from home, but the locker room conversation has decisively shifted from “maybe next year” to “definitely next year.”
“We want more,” declared captain Brady Tkachuk during the year-end media availability. “Everyone in this room is hungry to get to that next level and play meaningful games late in the season.”
The Senators finished with a 37-41-4 record, landing them 14 points shy of the final Eastern Conference wild card spot. Despite missing the postseason yet again, there’s a palpable sense that this team stands at the threshold of something promising.
Steve Staios, who took over as president of hockey operations mid-season, has brought a stabilizing presence to the front office. “We’re not interested in small improvements,” Staios told reporters. “The standard needs to rise across the organization.”
What makes this offseason different from previous years is the combination of emerging talent and management stability. Senators fans have weathered years of rebuilding promises, but this summer feels distinctly different.
Tim Stützle’s 40-goal breakthrough season provides one cornerstone to build around. The 22-year-old German star seems poised to become one of the league’s elite forwards. “I know what I need to work on this summer,” Stützle reflected. “The individual success doesn’t mean much when you’re not in the playoffs.”
Ottawa’s defense remains anchored by Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson, while Claude Giroux continues to provide veteran leadership alongside his still-impressive production. The roster pieces that once seemed scattered now appear to be forming a coherent picture.
“The talent is here,” noted Jacques Martin, who served as an associate coach this season. “Now it’s about establishing the right habits and expectations every single day.”
For longtime Ottawa residents and devoted Sens Army members, this rebuild has tested patience beyond reasonable limits. I’ve covered this team through the thrilling run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017 and through the subsequent dismantling of that squad. The emotional rollercoaster has been exhausting for everyone involved.
The upcoming NHL Draft in June presents another opportunity to add to the promising young core. Ottawa holds the 10th overall selection, which could bring in another significant talent or potentially be used as trade bait to acquire immediate help.
But perhaps the most critical development will be who stands behind the bench next season. After Jacques Martin and Daniel Alfredsson stepped in following D.J. Smith’s dismissal, the search for a permanent head coach becomes the summer’s first priority.
Several prominent names have surfaced in early speculation, including former New York Rangers coach David Quinn and Toronto Marlies coach John Gruden. Whoever takes the reins will inherit a team with genuine playoff aspirations rather than distant dreams.
“The expectations are higher now, and they should be,” stated Staios. “We’re past the point of moral victories. This organization needs to take the next step.”
The Ottawa sports landscape has changed dramatically since the team’s last playoff appearance. The Redblacks have won a Grey Cup, Atlético Ottawa has joined the Canadian Premier League, and even the BlackJacks basketball team has established themselves. Yet the Senators remain the city’s premier sports franchise, with their success or failure setting the emotional barometer for Ottawa’s sports community.
Local businesses around the Canadian Tire Centre are equally eager for a playoff return. “Those extra home games mean everything to us,” explained James Thornton, owner of The Barley Mow in Kanata. “The economic impact of a playoff run reaches far beyond just the arena.”
The financial implications extend beyond just restaurants and bars. The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce estimates that each home playoff game can generate between $1-2 million in additional economic activity throughout the region.
While the on-ice product remains the primary focus, the Senators organization continues to strengthen community connections through their Senators Community Foundation. Their recent $100,000 donation to the Ottawa Food Bank highlighted their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.
As summer approaches, Ottawa hockey fans find themselves in a familiar position – looking ahead to next season with renewed hope. But this time, that hope appears grounded in tangible progress rather than wishful thinking.
“We know words don’t mean much at this point,” Tkachuk acknowledged. “It’s about showing up in September ready to change the narrative around this team.”
For a franchise and fanbase that has endured so much turbulence, that change can’t come soon enough. The 2024-25 season won’t just be another year of development – it represents a crucial juncture for an organization determined to reclaim its place among the NHL’s playoff contenders.
As someone who has chronicled this team’s journey through the highs and lows, I sense something different this time. The disappointment of missing the playoffs again is tempered by genuine optimism about what lies ahead. Ottawa is ready for playoff hockey to return to the capital, and these Senators appear increasingly capable of delivering it.
