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New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What can the Senators learn from this year's Stanley Cup finalists? 4 lessons for the future
The Ottawa Senators accomplished their goal of making the playoffs this season. But those standards have already changed months ahead of the 2025-26 year. It wouldn't hurt for them to take a few cues from the two Stanley Cup finalists in the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, who will meet again in a rematch of last year's final. So we put together a list of lessons the Senators could learn from watching both teams over the next few days. Here's an encouraging sign for Senators after putting together this list: the Sens have already started on some of these. Ottawa is already a much-improved defensive team compared to previous seasons. The Sens allowed 3.43 goals per game during the 2023-24 campaign, fifth-worst in the NHL. This past season, it was 2.83 goals allowed per game, 13th-best in the league. Their players committed to playing defence while buying into head coach Travis Green's game plan. The Sens also received contributions from trade acquisition Nick Jensen, who looked good alongside Thomas Chabot, as well as two youngsters emerging in Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo. Both are now signed on short-term deals. Advertisement Jensen reportedly had offseason surgery for a nagging lower-body injury that plagued him in the back half of the season. The defenceman hopes to be ready for training camp, but a question mark remains over his spot in the lineup. It wouldn't hurt the Senators to add to their depth. The only thing is, depending on what comes of their contract negotiations with Claude Giroux and Fabian Zetterlund, the Sens won't have much money to make a big-money addition at the back. The Panthers and the Oilers have sought cost-effective defencemen to build their corps in their respective evolutions. The Oilers acquired Ty Emberson for Cody Ceci and a third-round pick last summer. When the Montreal Canadiens began their rebuild during the 2022 campaign, Edmonton picked up Brett Kulak. At the 2024 trade deadline, the Oilers traded for Troy Stecher, and this year they won a bidding war for John Klingberg and picked up Jake Walman ahead of the deadline from San Jose. The Panthers drew headlines for landing Seth Jones at this year's deadline, but their defence has also seen meaningful contributions from players who were less heralded upon arrival. Gustav Forsling was plucked from waivers in 2021 as a Carolina Hurricanes castoff. He's now the team's second-highest-paid defenceman. Niko Mikkola was a free agent signing during the 2023 free agency period. Nate Schmidt was signed last July. It's on the Sens to continue tweaking their defensive corps, adding bodies for depth on cheap contracts just as the best teams have. And with health questions surrounding their blue line, the Sens could benefit from adding another player regardless. The Senators made a series of free-agent moves last summer to insulate their top talent with veteran experience. The problem is, those pieces didn't turn the Senators into a high-scoring team, even when the Sens acquired Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund at the deadline with the hopes of adding contributors for five-on-five play. Advertisement Ottawa doesn't have to be the absolute best scoring team at five-on-five in the regular season — Edmonton and Florida were ranked 14th and 22nd, respectively — but the Senators could stand to improve after finishing the season at 31st. Ottawa also scored eight goals at five-on-five in the playoffs, tied for second-worst among all teams eliminated in the first round (with Tampa Bay, surprisingly). Meanwhile, the Oilers (3.06 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five) and Panthers (3.53 goals per 60) are two of the top three highest-scoring per-game teams in the playoffs this spring. Past investments on goal scorers like Zach Hyman, Evander Kane and Matthew Tkachuk have paid off for both teams, among others. If pulling the trigger on a trade can net you that goalscorer, the Sens must consider it. It's worth looking at teams like Dallas that could be desperate for cap space this summer. This one's on Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios. Yes, winning games should help with this. But if the Senators want to lure more talent to play in Ottawa, they need to continue overhauling their reputation post-Eugene Melnyk. It means enhancing the Canadian Tire Centre until you resolve your downtown arena situation with the NCC. It means continuing to increase your brand and foothold in Ottawa and Gatineau while maintaining the fans' passion, particularly against opposing fans who swarm the CTC when their teams are in town. Last month, Staios said Ottawa is the 'most underrated market in the National Hockey League.' That phrase will probably be repeated over and over when the Sens make their pitches at prospective acquisitions this spring. Edmonton and Florida have become destinations for players while boasting unique financial advantages and weather conditions. But at the base, they built winning teams. Advertisement Florida has transformed itself from a laughingstock with little playoff success to a perennial Cup contender, with fans crying foul over their tax benefits. GM Bill Zito is just playing the game to his advantage while building a winning team. The Edmonton Oilers were fortunate enough to have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as pillars of their team. But they still worked hard at creating a Cup contender of their own, surrounding those pieces and getting them to play in Alberta. (If I were an NHL player and I had to live in a province where polar vortices can make it feel like minus-45 degrees Celsius, but I knew I'd have a chance at a Cup every year playing alongside two top-five players, I'd strongly consider it. As someone who lived in Alberta for two years, I get the appeal!) The Senators entered this year's playoffs with optimism when they drew the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round. The Sens swept their regular-season series while shutting down the Leafs' best offensive players. If the Sens matched up with the Eastern Conference-best Washington Capitals, there would've been optimism as well, considering how high-octane each of their regular-season matchups were. But when the playoffs begin, those games do not matter. At all. Those regular-season games are dress rehearsals at best. The Leafs secured big wins when it mattered in the first round, despite Ottawa holding their own at five-on-five. But Toronto still fell victim to the Florida Panthers, who lulled everyone into thinking they were faulty after a poor final month of their season. Those Caps? Out in the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens need to work to make the playoffs as they play in a stacked Atlantic Division. But the league's best teams turn up regardless of where they're seeded. Of course, surprises can come from any seed. Ottawa's playoff-savvy veterans like David Perron and Claude Giroux know exactly what that's like. (Top photo of Artem Zub and Sam Bennett: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
National Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
HAVE YOUR SAY: Senators fans bullish on team's future in reader poll results
Fans of the Ottawa Senators have spoken. Article content For the first time in a long time, the vast majority of the poll's hundreds of respondents are confident in the direction the Senators are headed under Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, after ending their eight-year playoff drought. More than 97% of respondents believe the Senators will return to the playoffs next season, with a majority even believing they'll take a step forward by claiming a top-three position in the Atlantic Division. Article content Article content While the Senators may have made a first-round against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first Battle of Ontario in 21 years, nobody was upset that the club wasn't able to extend its season. Article content Instead, the fans see better days ahead. Article content Fans also have warmed up to coach Travis Green as the man for the job, with some hesitancy still lingering. Article content There also was an overwhelming love for Jake Sanderson, who fans crowned as the team's best player this season. That comes as somewhat of a surprise given how the defenceman started the year with some growing pains before morphing into a dependable, workhorse No. 1 blueliner in 2025. Article content Sanderson easily beat out Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk, players who were seen by many as the team's two best before this season. Article content The cat already is out of the bag with Ottawa's first-round draft pick, as Staios decided not to forfeit his 2025 selection, as expected. That aligns with the poll results, which seem to favour the wait-and-see approach that owner Michael Andlauer has advocated. Article content Article content In terms of changes to be made, fans largely concurred on who they didn't want back. Article content Article content Out of time and favour among the Senators faithful is backup goaltender Anton Forsberg, whose UFA status could see him replaced by 22-year-old Leevi Merilainen. Fans are high on the Finnish netminder, who posted a sparkling .925 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average over 12 NHL starts. Article content Fans also liked the Dylan Cozens trade, although he was the top player respondents think needs to be better next season. Article content Dennis Gilbert — the other piece of the deal — along with Travis Hamonic, are popular defenders to let go of this summer in free agency. Both are unrestricted and likely won't be kept. Article content At forward, respondents felt generally favourable towards re-signing Adam Gaudette after his breakout goal-scoring performance this season, while Nick Cousins and especially Matthew Highmore were seen as more dispensable.
Vancouver Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: What to learn from Travis Green guiding Senators back to NHL playoffs
It wasn't one thing. It was everything. How the Ottawa Senators ended an eight-year absence from the NHL playoffs this spring is a good story. How former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green guided an upstart and motivated roster to nearly upset the Toronto Maple Leafs in a riveting first-round series — especially in his initial season running the bench — made pilgrimages to the Canadian Tire Centre endearing rather than excruciating for frustrated fans. 'Everybody says they want to win, but the desire was there to make changes to win,' Green told Postmedia News on Monday. 'That was the most impressive thing, to have honest conversations. There was no white knight coming in on a horse to save the day. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'A young core group needed to make the most change and take another step. That impressed me.' What can the Canucks learn in the Senators' 19-point improvement from 2023-24? A lot about action and accountability. Managing personalities and expectations, and checking the right boxes, are imperative if Vancouver expects to reverse its 19-point plunge in a circus-like season gone sideways. Returning to the post-season proved more hope than reality because of too many injuries and too much drama. Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet had enough and left, and his replacement could be named next week. The Senators iced a top line that was a constant threat to score and had balance with five players striking for 20 or more goals. They had strength down the middle and made three prudent trades for big centre Dylan Cozens, second-pairing defenceman Nick Jensen and starting goaltender Linus Ullmark. The Senators also got a welcome surprise from former Canucks centre Adam Gaudette. He exploded for 19 goals — after just 10 in his previous 100 NHL games over three seasons — to better a career high of 12 in the 2019-20 season in Vancouver. It was impressive and infectious. 'I'm proud of him,' said Green. 'Sometimes, it takes hard lessons to drive home certain points to survive and win in this league after some hard knocks and playing in the minors.' The Canucks don't need Dakota Joshua and Nils Hoglander to surprise next season. They need a return to productivity after a Joshua health setback and combined struggles resulted in seven and eight goals, respectively. For the Senators, there was a mental hurdle to clear. A 4-3 home-ice loss to the Canucks on Nov. 23 was the fourth-straight setback to put them at 8-11-1. However, they went on a 10-2-1 run and finished the regular season with an 8-2-2 streak. 'You could almost say the team was scarred from living in the past,' stressed Green. 'That can happen in a Canadian market where it's a 'here-we-go-again' kind of a feeling in the room and on the bench. That's when we did the most maturing. 'We had open discussions about not living in the past. It's death.' The Canucks must trade to shore up their centre-ice position, even if it costs the 15th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and another asset. The struggling Elias Pettersson and concussion-prone Filip Chytil need support. The Senators sealed a multi-package trade deadline deal to pry Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres. It was prudent. It wasn't a knock on Josh Norris, it was getting bigger with more bite down the middle. It's a must for playoff success. Cozens, 24, surfaced in kicking-the-tires consideration of the Canucks moving Pettersson to the Sabres in a package that included defenceman Bowen Byram. The 6-foot-3, 207 pound Cozens scored 31 goals in 2022-23 and has a big upside with three more seasons at a US$7.1 million annual salary cap hit. Norris, 26, had 35 goals in 2021-22 but has battled injuries. 'It's not easy when you give up a really good player to get a really good player,' said Green. 'One of those trades when you know what you have and get a little bit nervous. But we needed to make a change and the room for growth and Dylan is incredible.' An increasingly pivotal part of running the bench is connecting with star players. Green had his challenges with the cantankerous and driven J.T. Miller and the mercurial Pettersson, who won a Calder Trophy and also struggled with injuries and expectations. But Green expects Pettersson to rebound from 45 points (15-30) in 64 games this troubling season. 'To be honest, you live and learn and Petey has been a great player in the league,' said Green. 'The talent is obviously there and it was from Day 1 when I first saw him. I had a lot of belief in him then and I still believe he's a top player in the league.' Green has also had to harness hulking Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who at 25 is already a dynamic force with a game-changing presence who also racked up 123 penalty minutes this season. 'What I like most about our group is how Brady has grown and that there's room for growth,' Green said of Tkachuk's team-high 29 goals and four more in six playoff games. 'He's been a joy to work with because he wants to win so bad and is open to evolving. 'There's not many guys like him in the league. He's definitely a throwback and ultra-competitive.' bkuzma@
National Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Canucks: What to learn from Travis Green guiding Senators back to NHL playoffs
Article content It wasn't one thing. It was everything. Article content Article content How former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green guided an upstart and motivated roster to nearly upset the Toronto Maple Leafs in a riveting first-round series — especially in his initial season running the bench — made pilgrimages to the Canadian Tire Centre endearing rather than excruciating for frustrated fans. Article content Article content 'Everybody says they want to win, but the desire was there to make changes to win,' Green told Postmedia News on Monday. 'That was the most impressive thing, to have honest conversations. There was no white knight coming in on a horse to save the day. Article content 'A young core group needed to make the most change and take another step. That impressed me.' Article content What can the Canucks learn in the Senators' 19-point improvement from 2023-24? A lot about action and accountability. Article content Managing personalities and expectations, and checking the right boxes, are imperative if Vancouver expects to reverse its 19-point plunge in a circus-like season gone sideways. Returning to the post-season proved more hope than reality because of too many injuries and too much drama. Article content Article content The Senators iced a top line that was a constant threat to score and had balance with five players striking for 20 or more goals. They had strength down the middle and made three prudent trades for big centre Dylan Cozens, second-pairing defenceman Nick Jensen and starting goaltender Linus Ullmark. Article content Article content The Senators also got a welcome surprise from former Canucks centre Adam Gaudette. He exploded for 19 goals — after just 10 in his previous 100 NHL games over three seasons — to better a career high of 12 in the 2019-20 season in Vancouver. It was impressive and infectious. Article content Article content 'I'm proud of him,' said Green. 'Sometimes, it takes hard lessons to drive home certain points to survive and win in this league after some hard knocks and playing in the minors.' Article content The Canucks don't need Dakota Joshua and Nils Hoglander to surprise next season. They need a return to productivity after a Joshua health setback and combined struggles resulted in seven and eight goals, respectively. Article content For the Senators, there was a mental hurdle to clear. A 4-3 home-ice loss to the Canucks on Nov. 23 was the fourth-straight setback to put them at 8-11-1. However, they went on a 10-2-1 run and finished the regular season with an 8-2-2 streak.
The Province
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Canucks: What to learn from Travis Green guiding Senators back to NHL playoffs
'Everybody says they want to win, but the desire was there to make changes. There was no white knight coming in on a horse to save the day' — Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green Get the latest from Ben Kuzma straight to your inbox Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews, left, and the Senators' Brady Tkachuk speak as Senators head coach Travis Green waits to shake hands after the Sens were eliminated from the NHL playoffs in Ottawa on May 1. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS It wasn't one thing. It was everything. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors How the Ottawa Senators ended an eight-year absence from the NHL playoffs this spring is a good story. How former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green guided an upstart and motivated roster to nearly upset the Toronto Maple Leafs in a riveting first-round series — especially in his initial season running the bench — made pilgrimages to the Canadian Tire Centre endearing rather than excruciating for frustrated fans. 'Everybody says they want to win, but the desire was there to make changes to win,' Green told Postmedia News on Monday. 'That was the most impressive thing, to have honest conversations. There was no white knight coming in on a horse to save the day. 'A young core group needed to make the most change and take another step. That impressed me.' What can the Canucks learn in the Senators' 19-point improvement from 2023-24? A lot about action and accountability. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Managing personalities and expectations, and checking the right boxes, are imperative if Vancouver expects to reverse its 19-point plunge in a circus-like season gone sideways. Returning to the post-season proved more hope than reality because of too many injuries and too much drama. Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet had enough and left, and his replacement could be named next week. Head coach Travis Green tried to guide the Vancouver Canucks to the NHL playoffs but advanced just once in five seasons. Photo by Jeff Vinnick / PNG The Senators iced a top line that was a constant threat to score and had balance with five players striking for 20 or more goals. They had strength down the middle and made three prudent trades for big centre Dylan Cozens, second-pairing defenceman Nick Jensen and starting goaltender Linus Ullmark. The Senators also got a welcome surprise from former Canucks centre Adam Gaudette. He exploded for 19 goals — after just 10 in his previous 100 NHL games over three seasons — to better a career high of 12 in the 2019-20 season in Vancouver. It was impressive and infectious. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'm proud of him,' said Green. 'Sometimes, it takes hard lessons to drive home certain points to survive and win in this league after some hard knocks and playing in the minors.' The Canucks don't need Dakota Joshua and Nils Hoglander to surprise next season. They need a return to productivity after a Joshua health setback and combined struggles resulted in seven and eight goals, respectively. For the Senators, there was a mental hurdle to clear. A 4-3 home-ice loss to the Canucks on Nov. 23 was the fourth-straight setback to put them at 8-11-1. However, they went on a 10-2-1 run and finished the regular season with an 8-2-2 streak. 'You could almost say the team was scarred from living in the past,' stressed Green. 'That can happen in a Canadian market where it's a 'here-we-go-again' kind of a feeling in the room and on the bench. That's when we did the most maturing. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We had open discussions about not living in the past. It's death.' Ottawa Senators' Dylan Cozens scores a short handed goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto. Photo by Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press Cozens for Norris notable swap The Canucks must trade to shore up their centre-ice position, even if it costs the 15th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and another asset. The struggling Elias Pettersson and concussion-prone Filip Chytil need support. The Senators sealed a multi-package trade deadline deal to pry Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres. It was prudent. It wasn't a knock on Josh Norris, it was getting bigger with more bite down the middle. It's a must for playoff success. Cozens, 24, surfaced in kicking-the-tires consideration of the Canucks moving Pettersson to the Sabres in a package that included defenceman Bowen Byram. The 6-foot-3, 207 pound Cozens scored 31 goals in 2022-23 and has a big upside with three more seasons at a US$7.1 million annual salary cap hit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Norris, 26, had 35 goals in 2021-22 but has battled injuries. 'It's not easy when you give up a really good player to get a really good player,' said Green. 'One of those trades when you know what you have and get a little bit nervous. But we needed to make a change and the room for growth and Dylan is incredible.' Elias Pettersson and then-head coach Travis Green talk between drills on the first day of training camp at Rogers Arena on January 4, 2021 Photo by Rich Lam / PNG Green sees Pettersson bounceback An increasingly pivotal part of running the bench is connecting with star players. Green had his challenges with the cantankerous and driven J.T. Miller and the mercurial Pettersson, who won a Calder Trophy and also struggled with injuries and expectations. But Green expects Pettersson to rebound from 45 points (15-30) in 64 games this troubling season. 'To be honest, you live and learn and Petey has been a great player in the league,' said Green. 'The talent is obviously there and it was from Day 1 when I first saw him. I had a lot of belief in him then and I still believe he's a top player in the league.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Green has also had to harness hulking Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who at 25 is already a dynamic force with a game-changing presence who also racked up 123 penalty minutes this season. 'What I like most about our group is how Brady has grown and that there's room for growth,' Green said of Tkachuk's team-high 29 goals and four more in six playoff games. 'He's been a joy to work with because he wants to win so bad and is open to evolving. 'There's not many guys like him in the league. He's definitely a throwback and ultra-competitive.' bkuzma@ Read More Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks
