The Ottawa Senators are expected to have five new faces in their NHL lineup. Coming off a seventh straight season of missing the playoffs, general manager Steve Staios had plenty to do in his first offseason in the job. Adding veterans and trading away younger, less impactful players in free agency has helped build this team, but it's the performance of the rookies that will determine where the Senators go in 2024-25.
NOTES: Jan Jenik, Xavier Bourgault and Adam Gaudette are not included as they will be playing for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL).
David Perron
The Staios' biggest free agent acquisition was David Perron, who added some much-needed depth on the wing. He prefers the right side, but makes the most sense on the left. Whether he ends up on the second or third line will depend on the health of Josh Norris, but either way, he'll have a quality linemate to play with.
Perron was a player who regularly put up 20-plus goals and 50-plus points, but he regressed a bit last season. Part of that was down to his age (36 years old), but he fell out of favor in the lineup and was pushed down the rankings by other Detroit Red Wings players. With the team needing more leaders and veterans, he'll be more important to the Senators than ever before.
prediction: He alternated between the second and third lines and scored 19 goals and 51 points while maintaining a physical presence with over 100 hits.
Michael Amadio
Michael Amadio signed as a free agent after playing just five games for the Senators, adding depth to the lineup and adding another player with playoff experience. The Senators can only worry about making the playoffs once they've made it, but adding a player who can contribute offensively and be solid defensively could make their bottom six a stronger team.
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Amadio has starred on the Vegas Golden Knights' third line the past three seasons, scoring 25 points and establishing himself as a strong penalty killer. Amadio is also a very effective shooter. While he doesn't score goals and mostly takes low-risk shots, he has a 14.2% shooting percentage in his three years with Vegas and is certainly capable of scoring 10 goals.
prediction: A strong defensive winger and key player on the penalty kill, he finished with 11 goals and 29 points.
Nick Jensen
Ottawa's expectations of Nick Jensen are probably too high for him to start. There's an expectation that he'll be the solution for the defense, and while it's entirely possible that he could improve them significantly, he'll have a huge weight on his shoulders. He'll likely line up on the second pair with Thomas Chabot, but even if it works out, the burden of returning in the Jakob Chychrun trade will be too much to handle.
Jensen has been a strong defenseman for most of his career and has shown he can make an impact there, even if he doesn't score a ton of points. His presence on the right wing as a shutdown defender who can play somewhat physical and block shots would be nice, but expectations for him heading into the season may be too high.
prediction: While playing the role he was awarded, he recorded three goals, 21 points and over 100 hits and blocks while also playing alongside Chabot and on the penalty killing unit.
Noah Gregor
As of now, Noah Gregor is projected to be a fourth line winger. He's not guaranteed a spot there as players like Angus Cruickshank are also up for the job. Gregor played for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and was a versatile and speedy player for the team. He will likely play a similar role in Ottawa.
Gregor's speed alone allows him to jump up and down the lineup if necessary. He won't be a high-end producer, but he can keep up with guys like Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto in the top six, so he'd be an option if injuries continue. He'll probably see time as a 13th forward as well, but having a player with his skill set who can jump in and out of the lineup is a good asset.
prediction: He was all over the lineup, even earning a spot in the middle six and occasionally sidelined for health reasons, finishing with seven goals and 15 points.
Linus Ullmark
The Senators' big offseason acquisition was Linus Ullmark. The superstar goalie also had high standards before coming to Ottawa, but he's more likely to meet them. Going back to Jensen, he certainly makes the defense better, which has been part of the Senators' goaltending challenges lately. With Ullmark, a proven high-end goalie who also won a Vezina Trophy, there are high expectations.
The Senators were in desperate need of goaltending improvement, and given the success Ullmark has had over the past three seasons, there couldn't be a better fit for the club.
prediction: 61 games, 39 wins and a .916 save percentage is a great season for a Senators goalie, but a normal season for Ullmark. Those are very reasonable numbers.
Improving the Senators makes them better
The Senators are strengthened in terms of depth, defense and goaltending with the addition of these five players. They won't lose any big impact players and if these five players have good seasons it will go a long way in helping the Senators make a playoff push. Staios has done a great job of making sure the biggest issues on the roster are addressed.
