Preseason began yesterday for the Ottawa Senators. Although the first preseason game resulted in a 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs, the Senators showed valiant effort from trailing 4-1 to cutting the deficit to 4-3 in the third period.
For the 2025-26 season, the Senators are looking to build off of making the playoffs for the first time in eight years last season. Higher expectations are placed on the team this season.
Predictions are going to be made as preseason is in full swing. There was one recent prediction made for the Senators before the season starts, but it won't be as a shocker.
Sens will have core to stay
On Sept. 19, Bleacher Report's Sara Civian wrote an article titled "1 Prediction for Every NHL Team at the Start of 2025 Training Camp." For the Senators, Civian's prediction was "this Senators core is here to stay."
"Ottawa didn't make any big changes this offseason following a return to the playoffs last season," Civian said. "This is, more or less, the group they're rolling with as they look to become a perennial playoff team."
The Senators' core is a good one. Most of the Senators' roster has been homegrown players that have been drafted by the organization.
Thomas Chabot is the longest tenured Senator with being part of the organization since being drafted in 2015. Drake Batherson has been a core piece since being a fourth-round draft steal in 2017. In 2018, the Senators landed on Brady Tkachuk fourth overall. With the first overall selection in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the Senators landed Shane Pinto.
The 2020 draft class was one of the biggest in recent times that helped turn the Senators into a stronger and deeper team. The Senators drafted Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Tyler Kleven and Leevi Merilainen all in the same draft.
Most of the core on the Senators roster is under contract until 2027 or beyond. With having players locked up for years down the road, it's clear that the Senators want their core players to develop and play together long-term. With having core players, it allows the Senators to sign quality players to the roster. Some of those quality players on the roster include Claude Giroux, David Perron, Michael Amadio and Lars Eller.
Even if the 2025-26 season is a struggle, trading away a player who has been part of the organization for years could shake up the locker room. The Senators did trade away long time Senator Josh Norris this past trade deadline, but Dylan Cozens has been a solid fit since being traded to Ottawa.
Like other homegrown players, Cozens is destined to be part of the core for years down the road with being under contract until 2030.
This season can excite Sens fans with the opportunity for the core players to develop more together, and grow more as an overall team. The Senators will be eager to show that last year's playoff appearance wasn't a one-year fluke. With the roster put together for this upcoming season, excitement is building higher in Ottawa among the city and the fans.