OTTAWA — The 2024-25 Ottawa Senators took their fanbase on a long, joyful ride. There was plenty of enthusiasm, excitement and flat-out fun, with the Senators going from perennial losers to winners in the most memorable season in eight long years.
Even though the campaign ended at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6, Thursday night was a celebration for the fans and the organization for the voyage they just experienced.
What would have happened if you asked the fans before the 2024-25 season whether they’d accept a first-round series defeat in a tightly contested series?
They’d sign up quicker than the “Brady” chants that started on Brady Tkachuk’s first shift to begin Game 6.
“As much as it stings right now and it sucks,” said Thomas Chabot post-game, “it’s a hell of a year by everybody right from the get-go, from training camp. Every single guy in this room bought into the plan, to the process and we never stopped.”
Don’t get Ottawa’s Game 6 loss and series defeat (both by 4-2 counts) twisted — the Senators’ season was a success, plain and simple.
The post-game emotion showed just how much this run meant.
“It’s devastating,” said Tkachuk while trying to hold back tears.
You want your star players to care. If they didn’t, you’d be worried about their drive and determination.
Senators fans serenaded their team with “Brady” chants and a standing ovation in defeat, and deservedly so.
“I really realized the impact that it’s made on me and this team,” Tkachuk said about the Senators fans. “And just really wanted to do it for them, they were absolutely amazing.”
The connection between Tkachuk and the fanbase is real, something not seen since the Daniel Alfredsson playing days.
Sure, the Senators didn’t pull off a miraculous comeback from a 3-0 series deficit, but the captain and his teammates allowed a tormented fanbase to finally get that sweet taste of relevancy.
“It was (expletive) unbelievable,” said Chabot of the long-awaited playoff trip.
The Senators’ lack of experience in a hotly contested series was the difference.
“Razor-thin margins,” said coach Travis Green about the difference between the teams.
Green’s team didn’t quit, a promising sign for a squad that hopes to quickly become a Cup contender.
“Once you actually are in it, that’s when we get to feel the pulse,” goalie Linus Ullmark said about the playoffs. “Right from the start, you understand how intense it is, how everybody puts their body on the line, how much faster it goes, and how much more everybody wants to win, like it’s not Game 56 in January.”
You can’t succeed without failure and that’s what the 2024-25 season was all about — finally taking a step to be in a position to swallow a bitter playoff defeat.
So, what’s next?
The future is bright.
Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson performed glowingly in their first playoff endeavour All three are signed for the long-term and under the age of 25.
Meanwhile, players like Ridly Greig, Tyler Kleven and Shane Pinto, all born in the 2000s, were strong in their first post-season. The team is young, tough and positioned for success going forward.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Senators can return all of their core pieces, except potentially Claude Giroux, who is an unrestricted free agent, but likely will want to return to his hometown team.
Ottawa’s general manager Steve Staios will have $18 million in cap space — according to PuckPedia — to work with, giving the team a chance to make key additions.
There are question marks that can be addressed in the off-season.
In Game 6, both Nick Jensen and Nikolas Matinpalo were exposed, making unfortunate mistakes on two of Toronto’s goals. Ottawa will have the cap space to shore up the right side of its defence.
Another issue was Ottawa’s lack of scoring prowess, finishing 19th in goals for in the regular season and scoring more than three goals only twice in the six playoff games. If Staios can add another scoring winger and another right-shot defenceman, Ottawa could be a legitimate threat in the East next season.
“Our goal is to win a Stanley Cup,” said Green. “Making the playoffs and losing in the playoffs is not the ultimate goal.”
Next season will present more challenges. All eight Atlantic Division teams likely will enter the season with playoff hopes.
“Crazy thing is it’s not going to get easier next year. It’s going to get harder to get back in the same position,” said David Perron.
Still, the Senators are set up to be a good team for a very long time. There are no certainties in life or in the NHL, of course.
But what is certain is that this Senators team recaptured the imagination of a city that was yearning for these kind of playoff moments that were lost for almost a decade.
“The vibe in the city the last couple of weeks was incredible,” said Perron. “And just kind of shows you, if we make a deeper run, how crazy it can get.”
