When talking about the best players on the Ottawa Senators, fan favorites Tim Stutzle and captain Brady Tkachuk might be the first two players mentioned. However, there's another player to be mentioned.
That is defenseman Jake Sanderson. For the first two seasons of his career, Sanderson kept improving, but last season was the best season of the 23-year-old's career.
Now with the upcoming 2025-26 season one month away, high expectations will be on the Senators. For Sanderson, he has a solid chance to be the Senators Team MVP for the season after the year he produced last season in Ottawa.
Why Sanderson could be Senators Team MVP in 2026
Sanderson bursted onto the NHL scene last season with recording a career-high 57 points. Sanderson became the first defenseman since Thomas Chabot in 2018-19 to record a 50-point season, and there's no doubt his game could grow more after finishing 10th in Norris Trophy voting in 2025.
This past July, Sanderson had early odds as finishing with finishing with the 15th best odds to win the 2026 Norris Trophy along with the Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber. With the season he had last season, that can be viewed by some as disrespect.
After all, Sanderson finished third on the Senators in points, second with 46 assists and led all Senators defenseman with 11 goals. Sanderson was clutch with four of his 11 goals being game-winning goals. Sanderson also finished with 163 blocked shots and 38 hits defensively.
Even with not having top 10 odds for the 2026 Norris Trophy before the new season starts, there is one former Senator Sanderson has the ability to replicate. That is Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson recorded 45 points and became an All-Star in the 2010-11 season. In the following 2011-12 season, Karlsson exploded for 78 points and won the Norris Trophy.
With having a 57-point season last year, there can be optimism that Sanderson could explode for 65-70 points this season, or even better. Sanderson's role will become bigger and he's already one of the most relied on Senators on the roster.
Sanderson's game got high respect in 2025 from 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban and from Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger. With respect from former elite NHL defensemen, it's clear that Subban and Pronger see higher growth for Sanderson this upcoming season and in the future.
Sanderson has become an all around defenseman in Ottawa. Sanderson is a solid 5-on-5 player, a powerplay threat and can play on the penalty kill. Last season, Sanderson averaged the highest ice time per game of any Senator with an average ice time of 24:26.
One area Sanderson thrived in well was the powerplay with having 30 powerplay points. Sanderson was one of three Senators to have at least 30 powerplay points last season along with Drake Batherson and Stutzle. The Senators were the only team to have three players of 30 points or more on the powerplay, and Sanderson was a big reason why. When Sanderson is on the powerplay, he's one of the best in the NHL.
When the season opener begins for the Senators on Oct. 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sanderson will be relied on deeply. However, with a career year last year and a rising superstar, there's reason to believe Sanderson can become to Senators Team MVP in 2026.