Opening night always provides a baseline narrative for the long marathon ahead, and the Ottawa Senators’ 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday was no exception. The Senators showed a distinct structural resilience down the stretch, locking down central ice late in the third period. Yet, as head coach Travis Green takes his squad into the first full week of the regular season, the mood around the club remains a mix of optimism and immediate tactical concern.
Here is a look at the key storylines shaping the organization right now, along with their upcoming schedule for the week of Oct. 4-11, 2026.
Thomas Chabot’s Captaincy Era Begins
The front office made its long-term culture pivot explicit by naming Thomas Chabot as the 11th captain in franchise history. Selecting Chabot over older veterans reflects a clear intent to anchor the room’s culture to someone who survived the foundational years of the rebuild.
Chabot rewarded that trust immediately in the season opener, logging heavy ice time, tallying two points, and quarterbacking a top power-play unit that generated clean entries. His ability to calm play from the back end will be crucial over the next week as the coaching staff adjusts its defensive pairings.
Blue-Line Injury Concerns
The primary concern coming out of Saturday’s win is the status of top-four defenseman Jake Sanderson. Sanderson exited early in the first period after aggravating a lower-body issue that nagged him throughout training camp. He played under five minutes before being pulled for precautionary reasons.
With veteran Artem Zub already sidelined on the injured list, Ottawa’s back-end workload suddenly falls heavily on dynamic young talent Carter Yakemchuk and second-year regular Tyler Kleven. Should Sanderson miss extended time, the team’s ability to suppress high-danger chances at five-on-five will face a stern test against offensive top lines.
Ullmark Anchors the Crease
Linus Ullmark provided the exact caliber of goaltending Ottawa envisioned when locking down their crease. Stopping 27 of 29 shots against a potent Toronto offense, Ullmark’s positioning eliminated rebound opportunities on second-chance drives.
If the defensive corps is forced to run temporary patchwork pairings over the coming road trip, Ullmark’s underlying performance—specifically high-danger save efficiency—will be the primary factor determining whether Ottawa stays above .500 early on.
Senators Upcoming Schedule
Ottawa faces a demanding four-game slate this week, opening with a back-to-back road test in the Atlantic Division before returning home to Canadian Tire Centre.
Navigating the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings on consecutive nights without a fully healthy blue line will reveal plenty about Green’s system structure. Managing defensemen minutes effectively through Tuesday night will be essential to avoid third-period fatigue before Thursday’s home game.
DateOpponentLocationGame Time (ET)Mon, Oct 5Boston BruinsTD Garden (Boston, MA)7:30 PMTue, Oct 6Detroit Red WingsLittle Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)7:00 PMThu, Oct 8Philadelphia FlyersCanadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, ON)7:00 PMSat, Oct 10Nashville PredatorsCanadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, ON)7:00 PM
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