Who should be the next Ottawa Senators captain?

The Ottawa Senators traded away their captain last season, so which current player is most deserving of taking on that honour in the future?

After the Ottawa Senators sent Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, it left the team without anyone wearing the coveted ‘C’.

As with other teams that have no officially named captain, the Senators operated with a selection of alternates, donning the ‘A’ on their jerseys and working as leaders by committee.

While this will suit the team perfectly in the immediate and short-term, later down the road someone will need to be given the honour of leading the team forward.

But which of the current crop of players is most likely to find themselves receiving the ‘C’ when the team is ready to make that decision?

Thomas Chabot

Arguably the most logical choice for being the club’s primary captain, even as early as this season, is defenceman Thomas Chabot.

Chabot is already viewed as a leader on the ice, with his individual performances being his way of showing how players should conduct themselves.

The 22-year-old left-handed shot has come a long way since being selected 18th overall by the Senators in the 2015 Draft, entering an important contract year in 2019/20.

In just 70 regular-season appearances last season, Chabot eclipsed the 50-point mark with 55 total points, including 14 goals and 41 assists, a mark that is rarely achieved by defencemen.

The Sainte-Marie, Quebec native has established himself as a top-tier defenceman after just two seasons in the NHL and is expected to be a key part of the Ottawa Senators organisation for many years to come.

With his stability and pure talent, Chabot looks like a serious contender for wearing the ‘C’ in the near future and could be rewarded with an ‘A’ this season to begin the process of preparing him for the added responsibility.

Brady Tkachuk

With the Senators entering an important rebuild, picking a captain will be a tough job but it should be one of the talented young players already enthusing the fanbase.

Brady Tkachuk, younger brother of Calgary Flames forward Matthew, was a bright spark on a team that largely just suffered through the disappointing 2018/19 season.

His tenacity, attitude and overall fun personality helped the organisation’s fourth-overall selection in 2018 truly endear himself to the fans and lead to many suggesting he could be an interesting candidate for the captaincy in the near future.

Despite the team’s struggles, Tkachuk always looks excited to be on the ice and represent the Ottawa Senators, putting his body on the line with every shift.

With 22 goals and 45 total points in 71 regular-season games during his rookie campaign, Tkachuk has made a significant impression on the organisation and has a bright future ahead.

If he can continue to perform and improve his overall production, Tkachuk could be in line to receive an alternate ‘A’ on his jersey – a simple test to see how he steps up and takes on the additional responsibility.

The Ottawa Senators are not likely to have a single captain in the 2019/20 season, but which player do you think is most deserving when the team decides to change that? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!