Prior to heading to the NHL General Manager’s Meetings in Toronto Tuesday, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios held court with local media in Kanata.
Staios touched base on a wide array of topics opening up with his club stumbling out of the gate.
Senators Finding Their identity
The Senators finally broke their seven-year playoff drought last season. Expectations were high coming into this season. However, opening the 2025-26 campaign winning only two of their first seven games, players struggled to find their identity.
“I was a little surprised on our start. To be quite honest, I thought you hope with the continuation of last year. Smilar group coming back, same coaching staff, that we would have been on our game early. I think we’ve grown into it, playing to our identity more now, but some early stumbles. I thought we pissed away some points early on. But feel like we’re getting closer to playing to our identity,” Staios said.
An October 18 blown game at home versus the New York Islanders is one example of giving up points. The Senators led 4-3 heading into the final period, but ended up coming away without a point entirely, allowing a goal with 1:03 remaining.
That night may have been the team’s turning point. The Senators have lost only game in regulation since, posting an 8-1-3 record.
“Full credit to the group. I wouldn’t say it was a poor start. I think two things I would point to. I think we have a very well intended group, and I’ve stated that a number of times, and they’re eager to prove themselves, and they’re eager to compete. I want to believe that expectations were one thing that is new to this group, making the playoffs last year, trying to get to that level right away. I think that might have been part of it,” noted the Senators GM.
Staios thought players were over-concentrating on scoring five-on-five and were “disconnected.”
While the Senators tied for first in power play markers last season, they tallied the league’s second fewest even-strength goals in 2024-25.
“And the other thing is, as much as we talked about our five-on-five scoring, I think as you watched our play through the first four or five games, seemed like we were a little eager to try and get on the offense and just a little bit disconnected that way – all well-intended, though. You know, our ‘D’ were kind of moving up the ice, and as I watched game flow, it seemed like we were moving pretty well, but just a little bit disconnected and not playing to our identity.”
Dealing With Brady Tkachuk’s injury
Part of the Senators slow start was learning deal without the services of their captain. Brady Tkachuk underwent surgery after sustaining a torn tendon in his right thumb in their third game of the season versus Nashville.Tkachuk has missed 13 games to date, and will likely be absent for another 10 to 12.
“I think we’ve handled it well from the standpoint of you know, I think in the past, the group, the environment around here would have been pointed right towards that. I think Travis (Green) has done a great job of not building in excuses. Obviously, Brady’s our captain, he’s our leader. He’s an impactful player every night. But we wanted to make sure that we took the approach that it’s next man up, and we’re not going to use that as an excuse,” Staios explained.
“And Brady’s done all he can to continue to lead, even with his injury being in around the group. So credit to the group, we know how much of an impact that he is for us as a team. I think our players took it upon themselves to step up, continue to play well”
It took a few games to find consistency minus Tkachuk in the lineup. And the Senators have certainly found way rising to third place in the Atlantic Division.
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Tim Stützle Rounding Out His Game
One player who’s taken a step forward in his captain’s absence is Tim Stützle. It’s no surprise the 23-year-old is posting solid offensive numbers, eight goals, eight assists in 16 games, 11 of those points registered over the Senators past eight games. However, Stützle is embracing his the defensive side of the game.
Working with Senators assistant coach Ben Sexton and centres Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto, Stützle is quicky becoming one the of the league’s predominant pivots in the faceoff circle. The Senators are tops league-wide in faceoff percentage at 59.8%. Stützle’s 62.1% ranks fourth among all NHL qualifiers, a far cry over his 44.6% average on draws.
Stützle also took it upon himself this season to become part of the team’s penalty kill unit.
Staios gives Stützle credit for attempting to improve his two-play.
“That commitment to playing on the defensive side has been sort of the biggest area of growth for him. And as you can see now, he’s taking pride in being on the penalty kill. And, you know, the penalty kill has changed. I know it’s going to be a question, so may as well get to it,” he said.
“Over the years, you have penalty killers like those who had certain qualities that they had, and now you’re seeing around the league that your top players are going out and killing penalties, like with Tim. You can see him evolve into that he’s taking pride in it and got great instinct and speed and makes it uncomfortable for the power play unit.“
Senators GM Believes In His Starting Goalie
Last season, Linus Ullmark started slow, but finished strong. Early this season, the netminder appears to be continuing this trend.
“I believe in Linus. The team believes in Linus,” said Staios Monday during his availability.
‘I think if you look at goaltending around the league, some of the top goaltenders go through stretches where they’re not getting the results that they want. Not making excuses, but honestly, I think he’s been a little bit unlucky when you look at some of the goals that have gone in. (A) But he’s in better shape than he’s ever been in. He’s made that commitment. And (B), I think you can see that his game is rounding into form. And I think over a long period of time, he’s our guy, and we have full faith in him and a pretty young, good goaltender in Leevi Meralainen, who continues to develop as well.”
The Senators GM also spoke on other topics; among them, head coach Travis Green’s ability to change the culture of the club.
“He’s held a high bar of accountability. He’s got a great ability to communicate with his players. He’s open, he’s honest, and he’s firm. I look at players, and you start to develop an identity to a team and a chemistry to the team, and it’s a lot between what the head coach and the general manager, the dialog that we have leading into it, but I think he’s done, done a very good job.”
On discussions of a contract extension for pending restricted free agent Shane Pinto; “We’re going to meet again this week (with Pinto’s agent Lewis Gross), and hoping to come up with a positive outcome.”
Staios added there’s no news on the Alex Formenton situation. The Senators own the playing rights to Formenton and are attempting to work out a trade.
Same stands for defenseman Max Guenette. A restricted free agent, Guenette reportedly requested a trade during the offseason after the club signed Lassi Thomson.
