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The Ottawa Senators enter the 2026-27 season facing a new challenge after trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. Former NHL executive Pierre McGuire believes Ottawa can remain a playoff contender, but only if it builds on its identity from last season.
Speaking on The Sick Podcast – Sens Spotlight, McGuire pointed to coaching, structure, and special teams as the keys to replacing Tkachuk’s impact.
Ottawa finished 44-27-11 with 99 points in 2025-26. The Senators ranked eighth in the NHL with 275 goals before getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
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Alex Adams questioned whether Ottawa could remain a top-10 offense after losing Tkachuk.
McGuire highlighted one immediate priority, saying, “The power play really has to be effective.” He also emphasized the importance of Travis Green’s coaching staff, mentioning, “I’m glad you brought up Travis Green’s name.”
McGuire believes Ottawa’s playoff hopes will depend on outperforming division rivals behind the bench.
“If Ottawa can figure out a way as a coaching staff to be better than Boston and Detroit, they have a fighting chance to get in,” McGuire said.
He added another bold prediction, saying, “I think five teams from the Atlantic are going to make it.”
The Senators replaced Tkachuk by acquiring William Eklund and additional draft assets. They also added Andre Burakovsky while retaining veterans Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins.
Senators must lean on their defensive identity
McGuire questioned whether Ottawa has enough offense to match the Atlantic Division’s elite teams.
“But the one thing that Ottawa did last year that allowed them… the one thing they did that was really good, they were really hard to play against,” McGuire said. “Not because they were dirty, not because they were big, not because they were mean. They were structured. They were layered. They created a really difficult scheme to try to play against.”
McGuire also connected that style directly to Green’s playing career.
“It was vintage, the way Travis used to play as a player,” McGuire said. “That’s what they have to carry over this year.”
McGuire’s assessment reflects Ottawa’s current reality. Replacing Tkachuk’s production with one player is unlikely.
Instead, balanced scoring, an improved power play, and Linus Ullmark delivering consistent goaltending will determine the team’s success.
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The Senators still have a strong young core led by Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and Thomas Chabot. However, winning key Atlantic Division matchups may ultimately decide whether Ottawa returns to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
