After a free desk, the design and majority of transactions outside of season, the Ottawa sensors are strong at the back and have many options for whom they can call if needed.
Although the coming season is not a clear picture for Nick Jensen, the senators still have options to complete the top four and have a very balanced group.
Senators’ Defense Depth Chart
Jake Sanderon – First pair, Left Defense
After his third full NHL season, Jake Sanderon starts to settle as one of the best defenders in the competition. It is comfortable top-20 and can be argued to be in the top 15. Sanderson played extremely well, both attacking and defensive, and despite a slump in the middle of the season, it was still as strong from the year as always.
Sanderson played very well besides Artem Zub, but in combination with Travis Hamonic he struggled. ZUB and SANDERON have become one of the best combinations that the senators have seen since Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot, and with Sanderson who is just 23 years old, there is a very clear future for him, and possibly even a Norris trophy or two. With 57 points, his attack clearly develops well in the NHL, but his closing capacity is the stronger part of his game.
Artem Zub – first pair, correct defense
After they had registered from Russia, it didn’t know much what they could expect from ZUB. He spent the first part of his first NHL season as a healthy scratch, but since he became a fixture in the line-up, he has proven to be a very valuable top-four defensive defender.
He has been an anchor for every pair on which he played, regardless of who his partner was. Although there have been some injuries and dips in the versions, he has generally been a very consistent and reliable defender.
Thomas Chabot – second pair, left defense
Thomas Chabot had this last season a really strong bounce-back season alongside Jensen. His 45 points were the second highest total of his career, and that was without Power-Play time of the top unit. His defensive responsibility improved last season, and more importantly, he was able to stay healthy.
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At one point it seemed that Chabot was on schedule to be an elite-point-producing defender. Although the lack of talent around him may have hindered some of those possibilities in the past seven seasons, he showed this year that he is able to return to that kind of game and be a reliable star then with a stable defense partner.
Nick Jensen – second pair, right defense
After being obtained in the Jacob Chychrun Deal, Jensen was taken over as a stabilizing defender to work with Chabot. It is no coincidence that Chabot was able to put together one of his strongest two -way seasons, and Jensen also played very well in his own way.
Towards the end of the season he had to deal with some injuries, and that also led in the play -offs. Although his versions were not as good as we had seen the rest of the season, he was still a steady option. On the way to the low season of 2025, it was announced that he underwent hip surgeryAnd his timeline for a return could eat in the 2025-26 season.
Tyler sticking – third pair, left defense
Tyler sticking had a big outbreak during the Stanley Cup Playoffs from 2025, where he showed how impactful he could be. Although he can move the puck well, that is not the highlight of his game. He plays a perfect closing role on the third pair, and with his defensive skills and physicality he can be heavily trusted.
Jordan Spence – third pair, correct defense
With the health of Jensen indefinitely, at least to start with, it was crucial that general manager Steve Staios brought another right-shot defender and the assets Buy low on Jordan Spence Made for a perfect match. Although Spence is looking for a greater role than he was given with the Los Angeles Kings, there is a chance that when the group is healthy, he will stay on the third pair.
Spence has great puck-moving skills and would be a great partner for a defender like Kleve, but he also has the talent to settle as a real top-four defender. Spence has a number of excellent analytical statistics, and although in a limited role was unable to set up the elite figures, he could earn himself a chance if he can find the right fit alongside Sanderson or Chabot.
Depth defenders (AHL/Echl)
Nikolas Matinpalo – correct defense
After he joined the senators schedule halfway through the season, Nikolas Matinpalo provided a very stable option on the third pair for the senators. He had proven that he earns a place in the team, and just like Spence, if Jensen will miss some time, it will be Matin palo who spends more time in the line -up. He earned an extension of two years with the senators and could look to continue his very strong development path.
Donovan Sebrango – Left Defense
After he was brought in from the trade in Alex Debrincat, the hockey writers shared Devin Little: “Sebrango is a two-way defender who plays an adult, safe game. He was one of those Covid-Extendations Players who jumped to the Ahl, and he could probably see it.” Since that trade, Sebrango had continued a steady path in the American Hockey League (AHL) and is now seen as the next man of the senators for the left side of the defense.
Carter Yakemchuk – correct defense
In terms of value and organizational ranking, Carter Yakemchuk is much higher than this, but for this season he is probably the second option for one Right of rights. He has a lot of raw talent and scores more than 45 goals in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the past two seasons. His attack was not that strong in his post-rod season, which is sometimes a concern, but he sacrificed the attacking dominance to work on his defense skills, which certainly improved during the season. He also has the size to supplement a very strong two -way game.
Lassi Thomson – correct defense
After a short break from Noord -America, Lassi Thomson returned to the Senators’ organization after playing a season in Finland, where he placed some quite strong figures. He played well in the Pro organization shortly after he was prepared, but seemed to tease. But after a season abroad, the hope is that Thomson can get some confidence and wear it in the 2025-26 season and plays as a very strong depth option.
Tomas Hamara – Left Defense
Tomas Hamara had a huge breakout season with the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season and scored 55 points in 58 games. This season Hamara is arriving at the AHL -affiliate of the senators, and although the pace of playing a bit, it can be able to build that strong Hamara season in a great position to develop well.
Matthew Andonovski – Left Defense
Matthew Andonovski has a number of excellent closing options. He is not a producer, but look at sticking as the kind of defender Andonovski could be. He will have to make a number of major adjustments and will try to further develop his skills in the AHL.
Jorian Donovan – Left Defense
There is some hope that Jorian Donovan from his Rookie season can build in the AHL and can feel more comfortable with the defense at that level. He is a smooth skating, offensive promising defender, but struggled in his first professional season.
Maxence Guenette – correct defense
It seems that Maxence Guenette has long been the next man, but has not really got his shot yet. He is a good right-shot defender who is stable in every role. He has four full AHL seasons under his belt and will make a push to be on the NHL schedule again, but there is a lot of competition in the way.
Defensive prospects – Outside Pro Organization
Logan Hensler – Correct defense
The most recent first round pick Through the senators, Logan Hensler, has many of the skills needed to be a very good NHL defender. His defense is strong, he has a good stick, and although the points are not yet stacked for Hensler, he does have good puck-moving skills. One of his strongest assets is his skating and gap control. He is great to ensure that he is in the best possible position to make the smart game.
Filip Nordberg – left defense
Although it is unclear where Filip Nordberg is playing for this season, he has two USHL seasons under his belt and has taken some major steps in the right direction. Although he does not have one skill that stands out above the rest, he is a freely steady defender. An NHL-Tukomst is currently looking unlikely, but if he can find a way to use his 6-foot-6 frame more effectively and to continue working on his defense, he could form in a depth option.
Theo Wallberg – left defense
Another Big-Body defender who have drawn up the senators, Theo Wallberg, has played two NCAA seasons and has not yet been broken as a top option for Ohio State. He is still a 6-foot-5 defender who may not be able to develop the skills needed to play NHL minutes, but just like Nordberg there is still a path to become a depth option.
Gabriel Eliasson – Left Defense
What? Another solid left-shot defensive prospect? This is larger than the rest at 6-foot-7, Gabriel Eliasson has developed very well and can view a number of large AHL minutes faster than the others on the list. He is not really a point producer, but has a promising defensive skills and can use his size to play very physically.
Hoyt Stanley – Right defense
Hoyt Stanley will return for a third season at Cornell Univ. This season, and because of his time there, he continued his strong defensive development. He has great skating, reads well, and if he can find a way to get his attacking game to click, he could become a promising prospect.
Eerik Walenius – left defense
Eerik Walenius makes the jump from the Finnish U20 League to the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (Qmjhl) and will join the Moncton Wildcats. He is a pretty raw prospect, and there will be more opportunity to see what he is able to do with the Wildcats, who have high ambitions this season.
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