As the NHL playoffs unfold, Ottawa Senators General Manager Steve Staios appears to be studying the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers to glean insights for enhancing his own team. He’s likely pondering questions such as why these two teams have reached the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years and how the Panthers managed to compete in the finals three years running. He’s also comparing their rosters with what the Senators currently have, using those lessons to guide his off-season decisions and how he plans to invest the $16.6 million in salary cap space available to Ottawa.
Though the Oilers and Panthers differ in style and structure, both have successfully made back-to-back finals appearances. The Oilers are a top-heavy team led by stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard, complemented by a supporting cast including Corey Perry and Trent Frederick, and solid goaltending from Stuart Skinner when available. If Edmonton wins the Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy is expected to go to one of their star players.
Conversely, the Panthers have built around exceptional goaltending from two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. While their defensemen might lack the offensive flair of someone like Bouchard, their strong, deep lineup, anchored by Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones, makes it tough for opponents to establish offensive dominance. Their roster is characterized by size, depth, and resilience with key players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Carter Verhaeghe. Should the Panthers take the Cup, the Conn Smythe would likely go to one of these players rather than a superstar like McDavid.
So, which model does Ottawa more closely resemble: the Panthers or the Oilers? Up until recently, Ottawa’s goaltending was inconsistent, but Staios addressed this by acquiring Linus Ullmark and moving past small-framed players like Erik Brännström to make room for Tyler Kleven. This has already yielded positive results for the Senators.
The team boasts elite speed and skill through players such as Tim Stützle but is really defined by its defensive focus and leadership from captain Brady Tkachuk, who prioritizes defensive responsibility and a team-oriented style. Contributors like Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Mike Hardman, known for their robust two-way play, are seen as vital for the Senators’ progress.
In the NHL Draft, Staios has targeted large, gritty defensemen with offensive upside, selecting Carter Lockwood first and the towering Gabriel Eliáš in the second round. This draft strategy moves away from the Senators’ past pattern of either top 10 picks or no first-round selections at all.
Currently, Staios seems to favor a Panthers-like approach, believing success in the Eastern Conference requires a tough, attritional style. Although Ottawa isn’t there yet, this trajectory seems deliberate, and given Florida’s recent accomplishments, it’s an understandable strategy.
Before making any free agency moves, Staios must decide on players with expiring contracts. Nicklas Matinpalo has proven to be a team-friendly, dependable defenseman fitting the Senators’ blueprint. The team also faces decisions regarding unrestricted free agents Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Adam Gaudette, Matthew Highmore, and Travis Hamonic, plus restricted free agent Fabian Zetterlund, all of whom factor into Ottawa’s roster planning.
This season, the Senators became notably tougher to compete against. Staios now has to assess whether key players align with the team’s evolving identity and determine who to retain. Fans should expect changes, as the GM has shown he’s ready to make bold moves, like the blockbuster Josh Norris trade, to push the team upward. If Staios is not deeply attached to current players, the 2024 training camp may welcome several new faces.
Fan Take: This analysis matters because it reveals Ottawa’s strategic pivot toward building a resilient, defensively sound team modeled after recent playoff successes in the NHL. For hockey fans, it signals that the Senators are committed to evolving their roster thoughtfully, which could lead to more intense, competitive games and a brighter future for the franchise in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
