Steve Staios Transforms Senators from Pretenders to Contenders
The Ottawa Senators return to the post-season after a long rebuild. Many point to one reason: Steve Staios Transforms Senators from Pretenders to Contenders.
From rebuild to contention
The turnaround took about eight years to reach the playoffs last season. In his first two full seasons in charge, Staios reshaped the organization.
The Senators posted their highest point total since 2014-15. They recorded back-to-back 97-plus point campaigns for the first time since 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Coaching and veteran additions
Staios hired Travis Green as head coach instead of Craig Berube. He said fit and long-term direction guided that choice.
He signed or added veterans including Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio, Nick Jensen, and Lars Eller. Those players brought experience and stability around a young core.
Line chemistry and goaltending moves
Cousins and Amadio joined Shane Pinto on a third line that became a strong shutdown unit. That line played a major role in limiting opponents.
Staios also acquired Linus Ullmark from Boston. Ullmark faced public mental-health and on-ice struggles, prompting a team statement about rumours.
When Ullmark took personal leave, Staios signed James Reimer. The club went 7-4-2 with Reimer on the roster.
Deadline decisions and returns
At the trade deadline, Staios bought rather than sold. He acquired Warren Foegele for a second-round pick.
Foegele scored six goals in 21 games. That production translated to a roughly 23-goal pace and helped the push into the playoffs.
Staios also recovered the team’s first-round pick that had been lost after the Evgenii Dadonov trade under the previous regime.
Draft moves and depth building
At last year’s draft, Staios traded down two spots in the first round. He gained an extra third-round pick and then used assets to acquire Jordan Spence.
Spence provided important depth when injuries hit, helping after absences by Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot. Staios stressed resilience as a goal.
Mistakes and learning
Not every move has been perfect. The Fabian Zetterlund trade has been mixed in value.
Losing prospects Mark Kastelic and Parker Kelly cut into depth. The organization’s drafting record under Staios has had rough patches.
Core identity and culture
Staios inherited a nucleus featuring Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, and Thomas Chabot. He then surrounded them with veteran support.
Players such as Sanderson and Fabian Zetterlund highlighted the group’s tight chemistry. Owner Michael Andlauer has noted marked improvement from a year earlier.
Staios emphasized steady progress, stability, and long-term growth. That mindset helped the club navigate off-ice distractions, including media noise around the captain.
Playoff outlook
The Senators open their playoff series Saturday, with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Filmogaz.com and Filmogaz.com+. They face the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1.
Ottawa’s strong underlying numbers and tendency to outshoot opponents give many analysts confidence. The team looks capable of making noise in the postseason.
Staios admits he will make mistakes. Still, his roster and roster construction choices have put the Senators in a much stronger position than a year ago.
