As we inch towards the start of the 2026-27 season, there are some questions that will need to be addressed before opening night for the Ottawa Senators. Here are the five biggest questions that need to be answered before the puck drops on night 1.
How will William Eklund mesh with this offence?
In my previous article, I talked a lot about my belief in Eklund. He is exactly the type of player that this team has needed for so long. He is a speedy winger with a great shot and a good playmaker. I see him taking first-line shifts with this team. I want to see how his game complements Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson. Will it improve their offensive game? is the question at hand. I believe it will, but we have to wait and see.
What will be the future of Jaxon Cover?
Cover looked like a star in the making last weekend. He had 7 points in the prospect tournament, including a coast-to-coast game-winning goal. A 32nd pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, his performance made him look like a top-10 pick. He is probably spending a year at Penn State to get his education and develop. Depending on how his year will go, he could come over to the NHL sooner than we predicted.
Does Kasper Halttunen get his nine games this year?
Halttunen also impressed last weekend at the tournament. He has an NHL-ready shot, but the rest of his game still looks unfinished. He is only 21 years old, so he has a chance to polish his game in Belleville. With another year in the AHL developing, how far will his game go? He could develop enough to earn some NHL playing time near the end of the season.
How will Artem Zub’s injury affect the start of the year?
It was announced earlier this month that Zub will be out to start the season rehabbing a lower-body injury. Zub’s presence was a big factor in the Senators’ top defensive numbers. Jordan Spence could fill the top-pairing minutes. He has proven he can do it last season when filling in for other injured defenders. Mantipalo has the chance to prove himself. He can show that he deserves a consistent role in the lineup. Seeing what Travis Green will do without Zub will be interesting. He did win a game with four defencemen last year, so he's up to the task.
Will Carter Yakemchuk earn the sixth Defenseman spot?
Yakemchuk has been solid in his time with the Belleville Senators. He had 40 points in 54 games last season before getting a call-up to the NHL. In 4 games with the Ottawa Senators, he had two points in four games. He had a chance to play in the playoffs when he had two points in one game. He has shown that he can be a solid contributor not just on the lineup but in the playoffs as well. With Zub's injury, he has a good chance to make the opening lineup out of pre-season.
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