5 Things the Ottawa Senators need to do to improve this summer

Published Jun 27, 2024 • 5 minute read

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia Network

The Ottawa Senators may have solved one big problem already by dealing for goalie Linus Ullmark, but there still is a long way to go to get to the finish line.

The Senators allowed way too many goals last season — at 281, they were seventh-worst in the NHL (the San Jose Sharks surrendered a league-high 331).

Maybe Ullmark is a big step up from the departed Joonas Korpisalo, who was sent to the Boston Bruins in the goalie swap announced early this week. But there usually is more to a stinky goals-against average than the heavily padded player standing in the crease.

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In the case of the Senators, there were leaks all over the place. The fix requires much more than duct tape.

Here’s what the Senators need to do, starting with the NHL draft (Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas), continuing past the July 1 opening of free agency and carrying through until the start of training camp in September.

STOCK THE CUPBOARD

What the Senators do in the NHL draft likely won’t have an immediate impact, but it could play a big part in where the team sits in four or five years.

Other than a terrific 2020 draft class that brought them Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Ridly Greig, all in the first round, the Senators have whiffed too often.

A year ago, they found themselves with only five picks, the first one not coming until the fourth round. So, it’s important to identify potential and maybe hit a home run with a couple of the choices that go down this weekend.

Unless they swing a trade to move down in the draft order, the Senators, who say they will take the top prospect available rather than identify a positional need, will choose seventh overall. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch says the Senators could take big London Knights left-shot defenceman Sam Dickinson. Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino has the Senators choosing Dickinson. Some, including Postmedia’s Terry Koshan and TSN’s Craig Button, are suggesting the Senators could wind up with Saginaw Spirit right-handed defenceman Zayne Parekh, who has drawn comparisons to Erik Karlsson for his offensive wizardry. NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman says Ottawa will take defenceman Zeev Buium (left-shot, University of Denver) and Mike G. Morreale, also from NHL.com, says it will be Dickinson. In their mock draft, the crew from recrutes.ca took 6-foot-3 Calgary Hitmen defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, a right shot who has offensive skills to go with his size (6-foot-3).

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For the Senators, it won’t end with what they do with their first pick. They need to find contributors for down the road; it’s rare for 18-year-olds to step in immediately. Maybe they can snag a guy such as high-scoring (but not-so-good-skating) Anthony Romani (58 goals for North Bay after being passed over in last year’s draft). He was voted among the two top players in three categories in the 2024 OHL Eastern Conference coaches’ poll: Smartest Player (first), Most Dangerous in Goal Area (first), Best Shot (second). Romani is No. 70 in Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters. Does Boston College’s hard-working, full-of-hockey-sense forward Teddy Stiga last until the Senators pick in the second round (39th overall)?

THE HIT MEN

The Senators rely on Brady Tkachuk to do most of their hitting. He sticks up for teammates and fights their battles. That’s great; you want your captain to be a leader. It’s a “do-as-I-do” thing.

The problem is that not enough of the other Senators do as he does. There’s not nearly enough physicality. We’re not talking fighting. They don’t need to go out and find guys who can fling their fists. But they need a bigger lineup and with all that bigness, there has to come more physicality, more grinding. Can they get that in free agency, maybe David Perron on a short-term contract? Or, do they have to look to pick up what they need in a trade?

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RIGHT IS RIGHT

As it currently stands, the Senators’ top three offensive defencemen — Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun — all shoot and pass left. Tyler Kleven, who could get an opportunity to be a regular, also shoots left. Artem Zub shoots right. So, when it comes to free agency, the Senators would like to find a difference maker, probably a right shot. Maybe they pay a lot and get Brett Pesce, Chris Tanev or Brandon Montour. Maybe it gets a big cheaper with Matt Roy, Sean Walker or Nikita Zadorov (who shoots left).

THE 200-FOOT GAME

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Senators landed a big fish like Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel or Steven Stamkos in free agency? Sure, but it isn’t likely to happen.

It’s not like any team couldn’t use more scoring punch, but the Senators have some guys who can put the puck into the net. They should be/will be more focused on finding complementary parts, guys who can slot in on the second, third and fourth lines and help to prevent the disaster that was in Ottawa’s end of the rink this season.

Role players — maybe they score only seven or eight goals, but if they can effectively prevent the opposition from putting the puck in the net, you’re giving your Top 6 forwards a chance to win the game.

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HOCKEY IQ, ENERGY AND AGE

It’s tough to teach when what you’re saying doesn’t sink in. It’s tough to measure what kind of energy you’re going to get from a player, though you can get a pretty good handle on it by watching the body of work. There’s always a need for hockey smarts, guys with high IQs, but an energy boost, on and off the ice, can carry a team.

The Senators also need to add veteran leadership. Last year’s team has been described as “immature.” Some “been-there, don’t-that” wisdom would be welcome.

Does that bring guys like Adam Henrique, a returning Connor Brown or, at a higher-price, Jake DeBrusk, into play?

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