The Ottawa Senators will enter the 2026-27 season with a bit of a leadership vacuum. There is no indication at the moment that the organization is ready to name a new captain. That’s fine, as it allows the current core to step up and fill that void.
That’s why Tim Stutzle has a unique chance to become the team’s undisputed leader.
The prospect of Stutzle becoming the Senators’ face isn’t something rooted in marketing or hype. It’s something rooted in the need for the team to gel around its budding superstar core.
Stutzle, along with defenseman Jake Sanderson, is the sort of piece that the team has built around. They’re high-end, top-tier pieces with the potential to become true NHL superstars. And this upcoming season provides a chance for these rising stars to shine.
For Stutzle, in particular, stepping up and becoming the de facto captain isn’t really a choice. It’s something he will have to do given his stature with the team. He’s the Senators' highest-paid player and the team’s leading scorer. That’s why expectations are high. And with those lofty goals comes the responsibility of leading the club to the next stage of its development.
Stutzle could will be looking to reach career-highs
This season will be perfect for the 24-year-old to reach new career-highs. Last season, the former third-overall pick scored 34 goals and 83 points. That was a step down from his career high of 39 goals and 90 points.
So, would a 40-goal, 100-point season be out of the question for Stutzle in 2026-27? Not at all. The club will be devoid of distractions that plagued the team last season. As such, the lineup will have nothing else to focus on but doing their best on the ice.
That’s the goal for Stutzle and the Senators. The goal is not just to make the postseason. The goal is to make it past the first round and establish themselves as one of the top playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Senators mush avoid mushy middle
There’s a very real risk that the Senators could land in the so-called mushy middle. That’s the middle tier of teams good enough to make the postseason, but not good enough to make it past the first round.
Several teams fit that mold this season. These are teams that could hang around the playoff picture for most of the season, but that could eventually fall short by a handful of points. Even if one or two of those mushy-middle teams squeak into the postseason, they won’t really have much of a chance to get out of the first round.
That’s what the Senators need to avoid. The Sens need to push hard from the opening bell and establish themselves as a dominant force in the Atlantic Division.
It won’t be easy. But the alternative could be becoming a talented team mired in mediocrity. The best path forward is to hit the ground running and return to the greatness that saw them come close to a Stanley Cup championship about a decade ago.
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