Now that the end of the 2023-24 season has arrived for the Ottawa Senators, it is time to hand out some silverware. These won’t be traditional NHL awards, but just ones that seem to fit within the current roster’s layout. We will look at who had big years personally and would love to carry over their success into 2024-25.
The Ottawa Senators Best Performances on the 2023-24 Season
Brady Tkachuk
The captain. Despite a disappointing year for the team in the standings, Brady Tkachuk came to play every night. He answered the ringside bell six times on the year which was more out of frustration then proving anything. Additionally, he led the Sens in goals (37), points (74), PIM (134), shots (357), and hits (294). If that doesn’t scream heart and soul, nothing does. The other part of that was how far in the lead in some of those categories he was. Just as an example, Parker Kelly clocked in at second in the team in hits with 171. Therefore, not that there are any specific awards to hand out, but Tkachuk pretty well earns the MVP on top of the hardest worker, and undisputed leader of the club.
Drake Batherson
Next up is Drake Batherson, who really did put it all together in 2023-24. Again, like with Brady, the only real unfortunate part was the lack of team success. Batherson was one of only three Senators players to appear in all 82 games and finished third on the team in points. In addition, he enjoyed career-highs in goals (28), and points (66). He maintains very strong analytics, with a career 10.0 CF% Rel (9.9 this year). One reason his point totals were up, compared to 2022-23, was his shooting percentage. He saw that jump from a career-low last year at 8.8 to a strong 14.3 this season. If the Sens are to compete for the playoffs in 2024-25, Batherson’s offensive contribution will be imperative to their success.
A Toss Up for the Ottawa Senators Norris Winner for Top Defenceman on the 2023-24 Season
Not to hand out the team’s Norris trophy winner, because you could make a case for any of the top four. Artem Zub, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson each had excellent seasons in their own right. The importance of this aspect is that they have established themselves in their role with the club. So, the player we will filter out as having their best season from a personal perspective is Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun, like many of the Sens, felt frustrated at times as the grind of the season wore on. There was the sputtering of trade rumours that reared their ugly head at trade deadline time. However, both General Manager Steve Staios and Chychrun dismissed them as just that, rumours. But when you look at his collective piece of work, Chychrun had an outstanding 2023-24 campaign.
Jakob Chychrun
Chychrun led the Ottawa Senators defencemen in scoring with 41 (Sanderson had 38 and Chabot missed 31 games but ended up with 30). Moreover, for Chychrun, he played a full, 82-game slate for the first time in his eight-year NHL career. He had 14 goals, a career-high in assists (27), and tied his best single-season point total. Also, he played 22:23 minutes a night, which was around his career normal distribution. Another stat that stands out for Chychrun was his blocked shot total, which was far and away his career-best at 154. When you combine that with a 5.8 CF% Rel, it shows there is a recipe for success. Sometimes high blocked shot totals are a result of being hemmed in your own zone too often. But with a positive CORSI, he drives offence and maintains a great force on the back end.
Shane Pinto
In terms of the best, young player, let’s give credit where credit is due. Let’s not forget, that last year, Shane Pinto was only in his rookie season. He struggled in the 2C role, but he was thrown into it unexpectedly. Now, once he got going in 2023-24, he came in fresh and never missed a beat. In fact, he played in all 41 games once he returned. In that time, he supplanted himself as one of the Sens best all-around forwards. Look for him and the Sens to come together in the offseason in a deal that works for both sides.
For the Senators, these players did seem to exemplify the best the club had to offer in 2023-24. Of course, there are others, such as Ridly Greig making a name for himself as a great competitor. In contrast, the goaltending still seems to be a trouble-area. Hopefully, management saw enough in what they have in order to make an informed decision in the offseason. As an example, Joonas Korpisalo never played more than 39 games in a season, this year he was given the lion’s share of the load and suited up 55 games. That probably factors into his lacklustre .890 SV%. Moreover, team toughness needs to be addressed heading into next year. Now there are options internally, such as Zack Ostapchuk and Tyler Kleven, but management needs to be decisive. And have a coach that allows players to execute in their roles. All these things to say, it will be another huge offseason for the Ottawa Senators front-office staff.
Main photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
