When the 2024-25 season arrived, there was still doubt surrounding the Ottawa Senators. However, 2025 was a step in the right direction for the future.
The Senators clinched a spot playoff spot for the first time since 2017. Although the season ended with a tough six-game series loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one, the future is bright in Ottawa.
Led by captain Brady Tkachuk and young core players, the Senators are a team that will be destined to compete for years to come. However, there's one young player who can be part of the core for many years to come that might not be getting the recognition he deserves.
Greig has turned into an underappreciated player and is due to grow more in 2025-26
The Senators young core is talented with Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Dylan Cozens, Leevi Merilainen and even Tyler Kleven on the roster. However, one player that might not be getting the recognition he deserves who turned into an underappreciated player in 2024-25 for the Senators is Ridly Greig.
With the season Greig had in 2024-25, expectations for Greig will be higher for the 2025-26 season. There's no doubt that Greig is capable of growing his game more.
At 22 years old, Greig delivered a career year in 2024-25. Greig tied his career-high with 13 goals, and set two new career highs with 21 assists and 34 points.
Two of Greig's goals were game-winning goals. While mainly playing in the bottom-six throughout the season, Greig improved his game deeply by finishing eighth in points on the Senators roster.
Special teams is an area in which Greig thrived in last season. Greig recorded nine powerplay points on the second unit and four shorthanded points. Greig was one of Ottawa's best penalty killers when on the ice. Greig also had the ability to help draw penalties to the other team to help set up powerplays for the Senators.
Greig was part of the 2020 draft class that changed the Senators franchise for years. Greig was the third first-round draft pick the Senators had in the draft. After taking Stutzle and Sanderson earlier, the Senators got big late first-round value with taking Greig 28th overall.
Since first playing in the NHL, Greig has brought grit and toughness to a Senators team that desperately needed it. Along with recording a career-high 34 points last season, Greig recorded 138 hits and 47 blocked shots. Greig also won nearly 55 percent of his face-offs. Greig has turned into a huge fan favorite due to the way he plays each and every game on the ice.
Greig will have his four-year extension begin in 2025-26. Greig signed the four-year extension back in January. The Senators extending Greig showed they believe in him being part of the future long-term. Now, Greig can expand his game and improve in 2025-26.