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Senators Must Seize Opening to Make Playoffs This Season

The Ottawa Senators have not made the playoffs since 2017. Is this finally the year the new core gets into the postseason?

The Ottawa Senators have endured a tough stretch of seasons, failing to make the playoffs since their memorable 2017 Stanley Cup run. That year, Chris Kunitz‘s double-overtime goal in Game 7 ended their postseason hopes, signaling the start of a rebuild. The following season, Erik Karlsson was traded, bringing in young talents like Josh Norris and Tim Stützle. Now, with their core in place, the question remains: Can the Senators finally clinch a playoff berth?



Time For a New Era in Ottawa

The time has come for the Ottawa Senators’ new core to make the playoffs. This team cannot afford to wait much longer, or a massive change will be needed. Steve Staios recently signed goaltender Linus Ullmark to a four-year extension worth 33 million dollars. This contract solidifies that the Senators want to win within the next five seasons.

The remaining members of the Senators core are locked in long-term with the team. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Jake Sanderson are a crucial part of the Senators future success. GM Steve Staios shot down recent trade talks about captain Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk stated:

“It’s stuff I can’t really control. I’m gonna be honest, it doesn’t really bother me because it’s coming from a place where obviously it’s not true”.

This team is desperate for success, as it has been years since the last playoff birth. Can the core of Ottawa make a push in 2025?

Division Competition

A major challenge for the Ottawa Senators in their playoff pursuit is the highly competitive Atlantic Division. With consistently strong teams like Boston, Toronto, Florida, and Tampa Bay, it’s difficult for a bubble team to secure a spot. If the Senators hope to clinch a playoff berth in 2025, they’ll likely need to outlast one of these contenders—most likely the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning.

Steve Staios Senators GM
Steve Staios, Senators GM says the team is looking to add via trade

The Bruins, in particular, are having a down season, having recently parted ways with head coach Jim Montgomery. For Ottawa, consistently winning must become a priority as the season progresses. A couple of five-game winning streaks could be the key to separating them from the pack in the Atlantic Division.

Do you think the Senators can finally make the playoffs again?

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