Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators were in need to add some fourth line depth to their team. To do that, the Senators signed 2024 Stanley Cup champion Nick Cousins to a one-year, $800,000 contract in August 2024.
The Senators were Cousins' seventh NHL team in his 11-year career. In his first year with Ottawa, Cousins turned his season around after a slow start and finished the season with 15 points in 50 games played. Unfortunately, in a Jan. 25 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Cousins sustained a knee injury that kept him out of the lineup until April.
When Cousins came back, his presence was missed. Cousins recorded a point in each of the final two regular season games. Cousins was a tough player who can deliver hits, clear pucks out and play on the penalty kill. Now, it's time for a new contract once again for Cousins.
Senators must keep Cousins and can do it for right value
In a stat that might sound shocking, Cousins recorded 15 points in 50 games this past season in Ottawa. In the 2023-24 season, Cousins recorded 15 points in 69 games with the Florida Panthers. While playing in 19 less games than the year prior, Cousins fit the Senators' system better. Now, Cousins is due for a new contract this Summer.
For fourth line scoring production and being able to play steady defense, a one-two year contract for $850,000-$950,000 might be a fair contract for Cousins who will turn 32 years old on July 20. A raise was earned by Cousins from his season in Ottawa.
Cousins' presence was made in the 2025 playoffs. In Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Cousins was scratched for Matthew Highmore. After a poor Game 1 all around for Highmore and the Senators, Highmore was scratched by head coach Travis Green. Cousins was then inserted in the lineup for the remainder of the series by Green.
The lineup change helped the Senators in the series despite losing the series. Cousins and the Senators were in the remaining five games of the series following the change in the lineup. Despite going pointless in the 2025 playoffs, Cousins had 14 hits in the playoffs which was the eighth most on the Senators.
While the Senators have other free agents on the roster to decide whether to keep or not this Summer, Cousins is one of the Senators' top players to keep despite being a fourth liner. Cousins can provide solid value for a fourth liner with his production he showed in his first year in Ottawa.
One year in Ottawa showed that the veteran still has a solid presence in the locker room and on the ice.