Relating to huge milestones, the Ottawa Senators aren’t typically on any huge radars. That’s simply the truth of a rebuild. For the previous a number of seasons, they’ve been one of many youngest rosters within the NHL, and whereas it’s thrilling to see their rising stars hit the 100-game mark, 4,090 others have additionally performed a minimum of that many. It additionally hasn’t helped that Ottawa hasn’t had a lot luck with free brokers and commerce targets lately, so even these gamers who might hit important milestones don’t typically achieve this in Ottawa.
Nevertheless, 2024-25 will mark a brand new period in Ottawa. Not solely will or not it’s the primary full season below basic supervisor Steve Staios’ management, however the Senators’ largest younger stars are beginning to make their mark on the NHL. That implies that a minimum of just a few Senators might ink their names into the report books this season. Listed here are just a few milestones to look out for in 2024-25.
Brady Tkachuk’s A number of Senators’ Milestones
Since 1992-93, solely 11 gamers in Senators’ historical past have performed 500 video games for the franchise. The newest participant to hit the mark was Zack Smith, who performed 612 video games in Ottawa earlier than leaving for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019-20. However the Senators ought to see one other be part of their ranks this season with Brady Tkachuk, who’s already approaching the 500-game mark regardless of being simply 24 years outdated.
Proper now, Tkachuk sits at 440 video games performed in Ottawa; it ought to be all however anticipated that he’ll play 60 extra this season. Since making his NHL debut in 2018-19, he’s solely performed lower than 70 video games as soon as, and that was within the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season the place he appeared in all 56 video games. Over the previous three seasons although, he’s averaged almost 81 video games per season, which means that he not solely will cruise previous the 500-game milestone however firmly plant himself above Alexei Yashin, who solely performed 504 video games in Ottawa earlier than being traded to the New York Islanders.
However Tkachuk isn’t simply going to be one of many Senators’ longest-tenured gamers. He additionally sits at 187 assists, and since he’s by no means put up fewer than 17 in a single season, hitting 200 is already within the bag. Solely eight Senators have scored over 200 assists, and searching once more at his three-year common, he ought to simply surpass Chris Phillips for seventh all-time. Even the 400-point plateau shouldn’t be that onerous for him, as he’s simply 51 factors away. Solely 5 Senators have scored greater than that, and Tkachuk ought to be the fourth-highest scorer in Senators’ historical past on the finish of the season.
The trickiest one for Tkachuk would be the targets, nevertheless it’s actually inside attain. At 162 targets, he’ll want to attain 38 this season to hit 200 targets and surpass Marian Hossa’s 188 for fourth on the Senators’ all-time scoring checklist. Nevertheless, Tkachuk has by no means scored greater than 37 targets in a single season, together with his finest coming simply final season. If everybody stays wholesome, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him hit 40 targets, however loads might want to go proper for that to occur.
Ullmark May Hit 300 Begins
It’s exhausting to not get excited in regards to the Senators’ playoff potential now that they’ve Linus Ullmark between the pipes. The 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner because the NHL’s finest goalie remained among the finest goalies within the league final season, posting a .915 save share (SV%) over 40 video games, tying him for the Eleventh-best common. That put him at 247 profession begins, simply 53 video games away from hitting 300. Whereas that whole places him amongst esteemed firm – simply 171 goalies have additionally performed 300 video games in NHL historical past – getting there provides him an incredible probability to make Senators’ historical past.
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Since becoming a member of the league, the Senators have had simply eight goalies play 53 video games or extra in a single season. Of these, solely 5 put up a SV% over .900, with the very best being Ray Emery’s .918 SV% in 2006-07. Though Ullmark has by no means performed greater than 49 video games in a single season within the NHL – his career-best sits at 49 begins, which he set in his Vezina-winning season – he was at all times a 1B goalie. In Ottawa, the beginning job is Ullmark’s to lose. After a promising 2021-22, Anton Forsberg took a major step again, forcing the Senators to depend on the frustratingly inconsistent Joonas Korpisalo for 55 video games final season.
However Ullmark might additionally take the crown from Emery for the perfect SV% for a goalie with 50-plus video games. Since 2015-16, he’s by no means dipped under a .905 SV% and aside from 2022-23, he’s topped out at .917. With an above-average high-danger save share, there’s a great probability he’ll put up among the finest seasons ever for a goalie in Ottawa. The final time he was given sole beginning duties was in 2016-17 with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Rochester Individuals, the place he performed 55 video games whereas posting a .909 SV%. Ullmark has made large enhancements since then, and whereas it’s no assure, he might make Senators’ historical past.
Perron and Giroux Near 1,200 Video games
It’s not typically {that a} participant reaches 1,000 video games, and it’s even rarer for the Senators to have a good time it with them. That’s what made Derrick Brassard’s 1,000th recreation so particular; these types of issues simply don’t occur that usually in Ottawa. Gamers simply don’t stick round lengthy sufficient or want to complete their careers with the Senators. In 32 seasons, simply 10 different gamers have celebrated hitting 1,000 video games or extra in Ottawa. However in 2024-25, two extra will be part of their ranks, with Claude Giroux and David Perron set to grow to be one among 130 gamers in NHL historical past to play 1,200 video games of their profession.
Giroux will arguably have a neater time hitting the spectacular mark. At 1,182 video games, he must play simply 18 video games this season, and with two 82-game seasons already below his belt in Ottawa, there’s little doubt that he strides confidently previous the 1,200-game mark and enters into the highest 100 for video games performed. It’ll even be fascinating to look at how a lot he scores this season. Giroux already hit 1,000 factors in 2022-23 after scoring 79 factors in his first season in Ottawa however dropped to 21 targets and 64 factors final season. If he can discover his preliminary rhythm once more, he might problem Daniel Alfredsson for essentially the most factors by a 36-year-old Senator; in 2008-09, the long-time Senators’ captain scored 24 targets and 74 factors.
Perron additionally ought to hit the 1,200-game mark, however at 1,131 profession video games performed, he can have extra of a problem. He’ll have to play in 69 video games with the Senators this season, and in his 18-season profession, he’s solely fallen under that benchmark six occasions. Nevertheless, two of these occurrences occurred throughout the final 5 years, each with the St. Louis Blues. He has been the image of consistency for a lot of his profession, although, and after two robust seasons with the Detroit Purple Wings, there shouldn’t be a lot doubt that he can stick with it in Ottawa.
Thomas Chabot All-Time Senators Defenceman
Tkachuk has an incredible probability to hitch an unique group this season among the many Senators’ all-time greats, however his emergence as a franchise participant was no shock. He’s been the face of the franchise ever since he was a rookie and when he was given the ‘C’ in 2021-22, it felt like there wasn’t every other choice. However there was an alternative choice – Thomas Chabot. After some accidents and inconsistencies, it’s simple to neglect that he’s been one of many Senators’ all-time best defencemen, a bunch much more unique than the forwards.
This season, Chabot might grow to be one of many three best blueliners ever to play in Ottawa, becoming a member of Wade Redden and Erik Karlsson atop the franchise’s checklist in video games performed, assists, and factors. The simplest class for Chabot will probably be hitting 200 assists, as he sits simply three away from the milestone. Solely three gamers have surpassed that quantity with the Senators – Karlsson, Redden, and Phillips. It additionally shouldn’t be exhausting for him to get to 500 video games performed, as he at the moment sits at 432, simply 68 shy of the milestone. Hitting 41 factors this season will probably be trickier, as Chabot has solely executed that twice in his profession, however the newest was simply in 2022-23. With Nick Jensen now within the fold, he ought to be far more productive this season than he was in 2023-24.
No matter what occurs this season, 2024-25 ought to be a large enchancment over final yr. Not solely did the crew tackle their goaltending and defence, however they’ve dedicated to including robust veteran expertise that may assist push this younger core ahead. So, whereas hitting these milestones is nice for the report books, the crew has just one milestone they’re frightened about – making the playoffs for the primary time in eight years.
