Ottawa Senators Most Likely to Compete for Awards in 2024-25

With the NHL Regular Season starting up in just over a month, let’s make some Ottawa Senators related Award predictions. Ottawa Hockey Now is following the lead of New Jersey Hockey now, who made their Devils award predictions a few days ago. Let’s face it, no Senators will be favoured to win any of the major awards. There’s a more likely chance that the Senators fail to earn any nominations for these awards than they are to actually win one of them. But this is a time to be hopeful. Here is who are the most likely Ottawa Senators members to compete for the major awards. 

READ MORE: Senators Sign Calen Addison and Nikolay Kulemin to PTOs

Travis Green: The Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)

There is a common theme to Jack Adams award winners, for coach of the year. It typically goes to the coach who brought a team into a surprising playoff spot. That’s how Rick Tocchet won the award last season, helping the Vancouver Canucks to a high spot in the standings when the majority of people thought they wouldn’t make the playoffs. The same could be said for the last Ottawa Senators coach who won this award. That was Paul MaClean in 2012-13. This was actually MacLean’s second season as Senators head coach. He was nominated for the award in his first season, when he helped the Senators make the playoffs. Year two was when the Senators lost Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza for most of the lockout shortened season. With the Senators playing a pesky style of game, they surprisingly made the playoffs, which helped MacLean win the award. If the Senators can make the playoffs, it will be their first time since 2016-17. Travis Green will surely earn some love if that is the case. If he does win the Award, he would be the third Senators head coach to do so, joining MacLean and Jacques Martin, who won the Adams in 1999. This would also set the Senators up for this next award. 

Steve Staios: Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award

The reasoning for this award is similar to Travis Green being considered for the Jack Adams. Steve Staios undoubtedly left his mark on the Senators this offseason. His two biggest moves were hiring Travis Green, and trading for Linus UllmarkLINK. If those moves, plus the several other changes he made, work in the Senators favour, he will earn consideration for this award. This award is actually voted on at the end of the second round of the playoffs, with those rounds being considered by the voters. That will make it tough for Staois to win the award, unless the Senators can shock the hockey world and go on a deep playoff run. 

Linus Ullmark: Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)

One might argue this is the most likely award, seeing as Ullmark, just two years ago, won this very award. It will be tougher on Ullmark in Ottawa, though, as the defensive play from the Senators has been lacking for a number of years. Still, Ullmark has the best SV% of any goaltender in the NHL since the 2019-20 season. That time frame includes two seasons with a lacklustre Buffalo Sabres team. There’s also been some randomness to the Vezina over the last several years- gone are the days of one or two goalies dominating the Vezina wins year after year. Only Sergei Bobrovsky and Connor Hellebuyck have won the award twice since the 2011-12 season. That means there have been 11 winners over the last 13 seasons. Ullmark will look to join Bobrosky and Hellebuyck as a two-time winner. If the Senators play better two way hockey under Green, and Ullmark helps the Senators to the playoffs, he should receive some type of Vezina love. 

Jake Sanderson: James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman) 

Is there any precedent for a third year defenseman winning the Norris? What about one who did not receive any Norris votes during their first two seasons? One step further, what about that player being an Ottawa Senator? Well, wouldn’t you know it, Erik Karlsson won the Norris under these exact circumstances back in 2011-12. He mainly did it because of his explosive offensive numbers, scoring 78 points, 25 more than the second best defenseman. Jake Sanderson won’t be above and beyond the competition offensively like that. Just like with Green and Staois, the Senators would need to make the playoffs to catch the attention of voters. Next, he’d need to take a big step up offensively. The last three winners have scored 92, 101 and 86 ponts. Sanderson should score more than the 38 points he scored last season, but it’s quite ambitious to expect him to enter into the point per game or better rate of today’s top defensemen. Still, Sanderson has shown great two way ability early on in his career. Don’t expect a Norris, but maybe a few votes will come his way as more people realize how great he is. 

Tim Stutzle: Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)

Two seasons ago, Stutzle finished 19th in league scoring with 90 points. That was in just his third season, as a 20/21 year old. He fell off to 70 points last season, tied for 50th league wide. So even at his best, he was not a Hart candidate. Still, he’s regarded as one of the best young players in hockey. The big fall off last year came in the goal department, as he scored just 18 goals, down from 39 goals two seasons ago. The Senators power play woes were an issue as well, as Stutzle managed just one power play goal. This award is a lot like Sanderson for the Norris- unlikely. It would start with Stutzle regaining his form from two seasons ago, but even that wouldn’t be enough. The Senators would need to make the playoffs, Stutzle would need to be their clear offensive leader, and he’d need to set a massive career high in points. Given the talent in today’s NHL, even just receiving a few fourth or fifth place votes would mean he had a phenomenal year. It will be interesting to see if Stutzle has added some strength to his game. He’s a willing competitor, but to take his game to the next level, he needs to be harder to knock off the puck. 

Bottom Line

Chances are, the Senators, like most teams, will come away empty handed when it comes to individual awards. The key to even receiving votes will be making the playoffs. If they can do that, receiving award votes would just be a cherry on top. Both the fans and the players have the same mindset- playoff hockey, please.