The Ottawa Senators Go to the 2025-26 season with something that they have not had in years. Last spring they finally ended an eight-year-old Playoff-Driedte, and although there is still a lot of work to do, this is a group that suddenly feels like it’s in the elevator instead of being stuck in neutral. The Front Office has been busy shaping the schedule, the young core continues to grow and a few new faces step in larger roles.
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In this edition of Senators News & Rumors I will look at three storylines that could define the Ottawa season. Firstly, Dylan Czensens has a golden chance to prove that the senators have won the Blockbuster trade with Buffalo. Secondly, Ottawa added some depth under the radar by signing Jan Jenik and Cameron Crotty on two -way deals. And thirdly, Jake Sanderson’s breakout year has him in the direction of the elite status, giving the senators a cornerstone on the blue line for years.
Item one: the golden chance of Dylan Cosens in Ottawa
When the Senators took over Dylan Canens in the Blockbuster trade that sent Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres, the move was both daring and risky. But after a strong finish of last season – 16 points in 21 games – Cosens Senators fans has already given a glimpse of what he can be. At the age of 24 and signed until 2030, Ottawa now has a center with size, skill and a chip on his shoulder. His mission for 2025-26? Proof of Buffalo is wrong, the critics is silent and solidify themselves as the long -term club of the club’s second line.
The best scenario for cozens is easy. His task is to build on the momentum of his short Stint in Ottawa and to strive for a campaign of 60 to 65 points. That would mean that he rediscovered his form of 2022-23, where he was 30 goals and showed flashes of a real top-six power forward. If he continues to excel in the Power-Play-It Eight of his points with the Sens came with the advantage of the Man-Hij, the difference maker can be who pushes the senators for the first time since the Erik Karlsson era in back-to-back playoff performances.
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Health also plays a role in the long -term interests of Ottawa. While Norris’s injury problems followed him to Buffalo, cozens has been more sustainable during his career. A full 82-game season at a productive pace would not only make him one of the most essential attackers of the senators, but also a stable presence for a young core trying to take the next step. For Ottawa fans, the dream is that CZEENS will be the reliable, point-producing center that they have needed for years. If that scenario takes place, this can be remembered as one of the smartest transactions of the franchise in recent memory.
Item Two: Senators add depth with Jenik and Crotty Signing Sessions
The senators made one few depth movements this weekInk forward Jan Jenik and defender Cameron Crotty to two -way contracts. Although neither of the two signs will get the headlines, both players could play an important role in the team of the American Hockey League (AHL) team, Belleville Senators, and an organizational insurance if there are injuries.
Jenik, 24, returns to a one -year -old deal after splitting last season between Ottawa and Belleville. Although he was suitable for just two NHL competitions, he made a fixed contribution to the AHL, where he produced 12 goals and 29 points over 52 games. His combination of energy and secondary scoring makes him a practical depth option. The senators will probably keep him in the minors to continue his development, unless the circumstances force a call.
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Crotty, meanwhile, joins a two -year deal after spending last season in the Minnesota Wild Organization. The 26-year-old defender played in a single NHL match, but spent most of his season in the AHL, where he placed 10 assists more than 64 games. Although it is not expected that he will immediately insist on an NHL schedule spot, his experience adds stability to the Minor League Blue Line of Ottawa. Both signing sessions reflect the focus of the senators on reinforcing depth instead of reforming the NHL schedule.
Item Three: Jake Sanderon’s Rise to Elitestatus on the Blueline of the Senators
Senators fans do not have to remind you of the impact of Jake Sanderson. Fresh from the Olympic orientation camp of Team USA, the 23-year-old defender, is one of the best two-way defenders in the game. It is an increase that is built more than skills – it is about how quickly it is aged in a cornerstone piece for the franchise.
Sanderson came to the NHL with a lot of hype After his days in North DakotaBut he went beyond most people. His skating and gorge control were always strong points, but he has completed the small details of his game. Last season felt like a turning point. He stepped on Thomas Chabot on the Top Power-Play unit, achieved career heights with 11 goals and 46 assists (57 points total) and registered more than 24 minutes a night. Those are the kind of figures that you see from a defender who starts pushing into the elite status.
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What makes Sanderson so exciting is that he is not yet on his ceiling. He finished 10th in voting for both the Lady Byng and Norris trophies last season, which shows that his game is recognized at several levels. For a player who is so young, the growth curve is steep and while the senators are preparing for 2025-26, no Sanderson is not only part of their future he has already designed their present.
What is the next step for the senators?
The senators broke their eight-year-old Playoff-dried and cozens last spring was an important reason why. However, the real test is now underway. Can Ottawa build on at that momentum and prevent it from slipping? With Cosens, the second line expects to center, the senators bet that stability in the middle can finally balance a selection that has leaned too heavy on the upper line.
For Cosens, the season for the coming season is about rewriting his story. In Buffalo he became a lightning rod for criticism. In Ottawa he has the chance to be reminded as the stable, productive center that helped the senators out of mediocre. If his best scenario takes place, Ottawa won not only the exchange-them may have found the piece that will keep them in the play-off mix for the coming years.
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