The Ottawa Senators announced Tuesday afternoon, on the opening day of the NHL’s 2026–27 season, that Thomas Chabot had been named the 11th captain in franchise history. There was plenty of speculation about potential candidates, with Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and even Claude Giroux thought to be under consideration. Stützle and Sanderson are the best players on this team, and the rationale behind selecting either of them makes a lot of sense. The idea of Giroux becoming the captain of a second NHL club also makes sense because of his veteran experience and drive for success. All of the options were great, but none felt quite as perfect as selecting Chabot.
The moment that the captaincy became a reality 🥹 pic.twitter.com/95KKoj7BMQ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 29, 2026
Chabot was drafted by the Senators in 2015 with the 18th overall selection, setting his trajectory toward becoming a consistent presence on Ottawa’s back end in stone. The high hopes for him grew even higher when Chabot captained Team Canada at the 2016–17 World Junior Championship. The team ultimately lost in the gold medal game, but Chabot was named tournament MVP, becoming the only defenceman to ever win the award. Now, Chabot is the longest-tenured member of the Senators, and it made too much sense to select him as the team’s captain.
Chabot has found himself in a role that better fits his game and in which the Senators rely heavily on him: on the second pairing. There’s no doubt that Chabot has the capability to run a power play or provide strong defensive results, but the introduction of Sanderson has put Chabot in his perfect role. With Sanderson’s emergence as an elite first-pairing defenceman, Chabot is a top-tier second-pairing D-man who can fit in on the top pair without issue.
What ultimately settled the decision in favour of Chabot’s claim to the captaincy for fans was the dedication that he consistently shows to Ottawa’s team and community. Chabot has led multiple community initiatives during his time here. He's also the first francophone captain of the organization, helping bridge the gap to the francophone population in and around Ottawa. On the ice, no one can deny his dedication to the team, either. The moment that perfectly exemplified that was when Chabot was back on the ice practicing two weeks after the team announced that he had broken his arm. Some may view that as a medical miracle, but Senators fans saw a player who would do anything for his team.
Whenever the players talk about Chabot, they speak about him with such fondness and respect, noting that he’s the one driving the planning. Chabot has had to go through so many iterations of the Senators, including Erik Karlsson’s departure, Mark Stone’s departure, a change in ownership, and, most recently, Brady Tkachuk’s departure. Every single time, Chabot has been the constant for fans and the team alike. Of every player on the roster, it has always felt like Chabot was a Senators lifer, and this decision reinforces that completely.
Endeared to many as ‘Chabby’ and ‘Hotsam Batcho,’ and now as captain, Chabot is the perfect choice to lead this next iteration of the Ottawa Senators.
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