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Advantages of a Canadian Division for the Ottawa Senators

By Nicholas Robinson

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Brothers Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators and Matthew Tkachuk #19 the Calgary Flames pose for a photo during warm up prior to a game at Canadian Tire Centre on February 24, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Brothers Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators and Matthew Tkachuk #19 the Calgary Flames pose for a photo during warm up prior to a game at Canadian Tire Centre on February 24, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Big Rivalries Showcased

More games against the Maple Leafs and Canadiens? Sign me up. In theory, this one could be equally as frustrating and heart-wrenching, but doubling up on the number of times Ottawa typically sees both in a season is all positive for me.

I’m not going to pretend the Senators stack up to either of these teams yet. But the chance of watching the young Senators test themselves in big games against one of the league’s elites in Toronto, and a team that took massive steps this offseason in Montreal, would be sweet entertainment value.

The hatred between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs goes back a long time, but in many ways has lost a lot of sting throughout the Senators’ rebuild. What better way to put the Battle of Ontario back on the league-wide radar by playing it out eight times?

I haven’t even factored in the recent history in Ontario. The Senators and Maple Leafs have done plenty of business together and recent times, most notably with Head Coach D.J Smith, RW Connor Brown and D Nikita Zaitsev linking up with the team. It adds a whole other layer to this complex story. The pressure on Toronto to be the best in this Canadian division would also add an element of must-win into each fixture, and giving the Senators the opportunity to play spoiler. Sounds like a good mix.

On the Montreal side, this rivalry peaked during a pair of memorable playoff series in 2013 and 2015, where each side took a win. With eight regular-season games, it essentially makes their season series like the playoffs. Montreal has lots to prove after a big-spending off-season, and like Toronto, would see eight games against a lesser Ottawa side as must-win.

The pressure on Ottawa’s two biggest national rivals to beat them puts the Senators in a cozy underdog spot, with essentially no expectation from their own fanbase. I see no reason to not love this. The idea of Brady Tkachuk getting under the skin of two entire fanbases should be enough to sell anyone on the idea.

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