In this Summer Coolers episode of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down one of the league’s grittiest young clubs: the Ottawa Senators.

After ending their playoff drought with a gutsy first-round battle against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sens showed resilience—pushing the Leafs to six games after being down 3–0. But questions remain as they head into 2025–26, particularly around one glaring issue: Who’s going to score the goals?

Steve Staios and head coach Travis Green have built a roster defined by toughness and effort—but is that enough to stay in the playoff picture?

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Senators return to the playoffs for first time since 2017

[00:45] Offseason additions: Spence, Larsson, Czarnik, Hunter Shepard

[01:30] Key re-signings: Tyler Kleven, Claude Giroux (1-year deal), Levi Merilainen

[02:30] Notable departures: Forsberg, Godette, Hamonic

[03:00] Capital Question: Where’s the scoring? No 30-goal scorers in 2024–25

[03:30] Brady Tkachuk’s impact and leadership style

[04:00] Travis Green’s impressive first year as head coach

[04:30] Can Ottawa take the next step in a tightening Eastern Conference?

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Ottawa’s identity is becoming clearer: gritty, hard-nosed, physical hockey—just like Brady Tkachuk.

The lack of elite goal scorers is a real concern. Their top 3 scorers (Tkachuk, Batherson, Stützle) fell short of the 30-goal mark.

Travis Green’s leadership and system may be the difference in pushing this team forward—or watching them regress.

With other Eastern Conference teams reloading, Ottawa must rely on team-wide contributions and continued development from key young players to avoid slipping back out of playoff contention.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Ottawa Senators finally broke through in 2025—but staying above the playoff line in a tough Atlantic Division is another challenge entirely.

Without a big-name sniper or major offseason splash, this team must double down on identity, chemistry, and coaching. There’s a lot to like—but is it enough?

🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

🎥 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound on Facebook

🏒 HASHTAGS

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