In July 2024, the Ottawa Senators were eager to add solid production on among bottom-nine forwards in free agency. To do so, the Senators signed Michael Amadio to a three-year contract.
Amadio had a previous tenure with the Senators that lasted only five games during in the 2020-21 season. From 2021-2024, Amadio became a solid underappreciated player with the Vegas Golden Knights. Amadio's depth came to play in the Golden Knights' 2023 Stanley Cup championship run.
As the 2025-26 season is under two months away from starting, the Senators will be eager to show that 2025's playoff appearance wasn't a fluke. This season, the Senators are capable of returning to the playoffs if Amadio can turn into an underappreciated x-factor. With the season he had last season, Amadio is capable of doing so.
Amadio can be Ottawa's top underrated x-factor
Last season, Amadio had a rough start to begin his second Senators tenure, but finished the season strong. Amadio finished with recording 27 points in 72 games played.
Amadio tied his career-high in points for a single season for the third consecutive season. Along with tying his point-total for a season, Amadio set a new career-high with 16 assists last season.
Now at 29 years old, Amadio is due for a big season in year two of his contract in Ottawa. With how Amadio played in the final two months of the 2024-25 regular season, he showed he's capable of being an underrated x-factor on the Senators roster.
March was the first step in Amadio's turnaround. Amadio recorded nine points during the month of March. Two of Amadio's six goals for the month were game-winning goals. Amadio's play helped the Senators win 10 of their 15 games in March.
In April, Amadio recorded four assists, but his contribution when on the ice was evident. In nine games in April, Amadio finished with a solid +6 rating. The Senators won six of their nine games during April with Amadio in the lineup.
With Amadio's solid March and April, it helped the Senators deeply to clinch a 2025 playoff spot. When the regular season concluded, Amadio finished third on the Senators roster with a +12 rating, which was tied with Adam Gaudette for the highest among Senators forwards. Gaudette is no longer a Senator after signing a new contract with the San Jose Sharks, so more pressure for the bottom-nine will be placed on Amadio.
Amadio had a solid first full season in Ottawa last season, and is capable of making a bigger impact on the Senators roster this upcoming season. With how he finished the season and being relied on by head coach Travis Green, Amadio could unleash his talent with a potential 30-40-point season.
Amadio having a career year would only make the Senators that much stronger and more talented of a team that has a solid young core on the roster.