Ottawa Senators: What a Potential 2022-23 Lineup Looks Like

The Senators have some established top talent at the forward position but adding another player up front with considerable offensive talent would work wonders for the team’s offensive scoring depth. Adding a forward in the same vein as Claude Giroux, or notable Russian free agent Andrei Kuzmenko would improve the team tremendously.

First Line

Brady Tkachuk – Josh Norris – Drake Batherson

This is the most likely top line for the Senators entering next season, so I’ll go with them, as they’ve found success in large portions this season and its likely Senators head coach D.J. Smith will revert back to that combination at some point.

They have posted solid numbers this season as a line, usually coming out on top of their matchup, the combination has posted a GF% of 61.76% in 279:34 of total ice-time together. To nobody’s surprise, the trio is top 3 in Senators scoring, led by Batherson with 33 points, and Tkachuk and Norris stand closely behind with 26 each.

Second Line

Alex Formenton – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux

I’m not saying that the Senators are getting Giroux, I actually don’t expect it to happen but if any player of this caliber were to come to Ottawa, it would be the Gatineau native.

It’s expected that the 34-year-old veteran will likely enter the free-agent market this offseason, and there are rumours that Giroux wants to return to his hometown. A deal of 2-3 years, in the range of $6-7 million should do it for Giroux, if not it’s probably not worth it for Pierre Dorion and the front office.

Tim Stützle has quickly inserted himself as the team’s second-line center with his quality play over the last few weeks in the middle. The recently turned 20-year-old has developed great chemistry with Alex Formenton, both are in great form in their last 14 games, Stützle carrying 11 points during that stretch, while Formenton has 14. Giroux would be the perfect fit to pair with the two youngsters, he could also help in the face-off circle as Stützle is new to the position and has struggled in the face-off circle (27.9%).

Third Line

Nick Paul – Shane Pinto – Connor Brown

This is an ELITE shutdown line. The trio of Paul, Pinto, and Brown all thrive in their own end while also being more than competent at the offensive end of the ice. The Senators haven’t had a third line this capable in years.

All three have already been relied upon heavily by D.J. Smith so far this season at the defensive end of the ice, to various degrees. In his official rookie season marred by injury, Shane Pinto was used in a heavily-defensive role in his 5 games, his offensive zone start % is 5th lowest on the team at 33.33%. Nick Paul (40.00 %) and Connor Brown (47.75%) have also seen their fair share of defensive zone situations. This is a combination that makes sense with the great chemistry between Brown and Paul, with a young, promising center in Pinto.

Fourth Line

Ridly Greig – Colin White – Austin Watson

There are plenty of combinations you could go with on the bottom line – Egor Sokolov and Parker Kelly are have been playing well with Belleville this season and could warrant a potential promotion.

It’s extremely likely the Senators will ice Austin Watson on the fourth line once again next season, his $1.5 million contract doesn’t expire until after the 2022-23 season. Colin White’s finish to this season is crucial to his future with the franchise after his struggles following his six-year contract extension in the summer of 2019.

Senators’ top prospect Ridly Greig has enjoyed a stellar season with Brandon in the WHL, in just 23 games Greig has 18 goals and 35 points while also contributing his fair share of usual tomfoolery with 48 penalty minutes. Greig’s combination of skill and toughness make him an ideal fit in the bottom-six to start his NHL career.

The 19-year-old made it tough on the Senators to send him back to Brandon during the preseason.