The Ottawa people have a few question marks on the wings, and there are some to develop places and chemistry. For Fabian Zetterlund, the acquisition and expansion must be positive signs that the management team sees him as part of the solution.
Zetterlund through the numbers
Prepared: 63RD Generally (third round) in 2017 by the New Jersey Devils
Position: Wing player (shooting right)
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds
Age/date of birth: 26 years old (25/08/1999)
Land: Sweden
2024-25 Statistics: 19 goals, 22 assists, 41 points in 84 games
Career Statistics: 52 goals, 64 assists, 116 points in 247 games
How Zetterlund got here
After he was set up by the Devils, Zetterlund began to show some signs of a very good prospect while playing in the American Hockey League and in his first 50 games in the NHL. His strong start to his career ended with him that he was Sent to the San Jose Sharks In the Timo Meier trade. His 168 games with the Sharks went well.
Being a competent player in a young, the reconstruction team usually ends with getting the top minutes and the offensive zone starts. Zetterlund had a lot of attack through him and scored 83 points over that period.
The sharks still wanted to sell the valuable assets they had, so exchanging Zetterlund was logical. At the Handelsdeadline of 2025, the Senators traded A second round Pick, Zack Ostapchuk and Noah Gregor for the sharks for Zetterlund and other assets.
Through 20 games, Zetterlund was able to collect only five points and zero points through six play -off games. Although some of the responsibility is always up to the player when it comes to production, he was put in a fourth line role, which did not fit in at all in his playing style. The senators appreciated the skill in a profound role, but to expect him to produce, would be unfair.
Related: Senators 2025-26 Player Preview: Tim Stutzle
In the few top-six chances he got, he suited the team very well. He gave the club and the fan base a lot of reason to believe he could do well in a greater role.
Zetterlund’s role in 2025-26
That leads to the 2025-26 season. The senators have a few places available on the wings, especially in the top six. Outside Brady Tkachuk is on the top, nobody is cemented everywhere. It seems that Zetterlund, besides Ridly Greig, David Perron, Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux, it will fight for the other three top-six wing player spots. Although Batherson is running ahead the rest of the group in that respect, his line sizes and spot in the line-up are not sure like Tkachuk, which will probably be glued to Tim Stutzle again.
The skills of Zetterlund have to fit pretty well in the top six. He can shoot well on the puck, he is a smart playmaker, he is not afraid to block a shot or throw a hit, and he makes the effort. Zetterlund is such a versatile attacker that he must be able to match all line sizes.
Adding Zetterlund at the top with Tkachuk and Stutzle can really help to balance that line. He can adjust his game to how they want to play, whether it will pound and crash for the net or with a competent game.
From a realistic point of view, if Zetterlund can fit well on the top rule, or even the second line with people like Dylan Cosens and Claude Giroux, is a season of 20 goal, 50-point, certainly within the empire of the possibility. He is locked up for a reasonable price for the next three seasons, so the senators will want to find a way to fit Zetterlund in the line -up in a way that benefits everyone.
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