Full History Of Ottawa Senators In Timeline From 1917

2 days ago : Thomas Chabot returns to Ottawa Senators after remarkably quick recovery.

Ottawa Senators' defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to the lineup against the Panthers after recovering from a broken arm in just 17 days. Chabot expressed feeling good and was eager to play.

1917: Ottawa Senators in NHL

In 1917, the original Ottawa Senators began playing in the NHL.

1927: First Montreal-Ottawa Playoff Series Since 1927

In 1927, the Ottawa Senators played against the Canadiens, marking the first Montreal-Ottawa playoff series since the original Senators team played the Canadiens in 1927.

1934: Original Senators Move to St. Louis

In 1934, due to financial difficulties, the original Ottawa Senators relocated to St. Louis and operated as the Eagles.

1934: Original Ottawa Senators leave NHL

In 1934, the original Ottawa Senators, plagued by financial losses, ceased playing in the NHL.

May 1987: Land Acquisition for Arena Site

In May 1987, 600 acres of farmland on the western border of Kanata were acquired from farmer Cyril Bennett for CA$1 million for the future arena site.

September 1989: Terrace Corporation Unveils Arena Proposal

In September 1989, Terrace Corporation revealed its proposal for an arena development at a press conference, including a hotel and a 20,500-seat arena named The Palladium on 100 acres, part of a 500-acre mini-city named 'West Terrace'.

1989: Terrace Investments announces intention to win NHL franchise

In 1989, Terrace Investments announced its intention to win an NHL franchise and launched the 'Bring Back the Senators' campaign.

December 6, 1990: NHL awards franchise to Ottawa

On December 6, 1990, the NHL awarded Ottawa a new franchise after a two-year public campaign. The team would begin play in the 1992-93 season.

December 12, 1990: NHL approves Ottawa franchise

On December 12, 1990, the NHL approved a new franchise for Bruce Firestone's group to begin play in the 1992–93 season.

1990: NHL Franchise Bid Won

Terrace Investments initially won the bid for an NHL franchise in 1990.

August 28, 1991: Rezoning Approval Granted

On August 28, 1991, the Ontario Municipal Board granted rezoning approval for the arena project, with conditions including reducing the arena size to 18,500 seats and a moratorium on development outside the initial 100 acres.

June 1992: Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held

In June 1992, a ground-breaking ceremony took place for the arena project, although construction did not commence until July 1994.

October 8, 1992: Senators play their first game

On October 8, 1992, the Ottawa Senators played their first game in the Ottawa Civic Centre against the Montreal Canadiens, winning 5-3.

1992: Alexei Yashin Emerges as NHL Star

In 1992, Alexei Yashin, the team's first-ever draft selection, emerged as one of the NHL's brightest young stars.

1992: Franchise to start play in 1992-93 Season

In 1992, the NHL approved a new franchise for Firestone’s group to start play in the 1992–93 season.

1992: Original Jersey Sets

In 1992, the Ottawa Senators used jersey sets that were replicated in 2020 when the original logo was reintroduced.

1992: New Ottawa Senators begin play

In 1992, the new Ottawa Senators franchise began playing in the NHL.

August 1993: Rod Bryden becomes majority owner

In August 1993, Rod Bryden became the sole owner of Terrace and majority owner of the Ottawa Senators, buying out Bruce Firestone.

1993: Senators play in the Northeast Division

In 1993, the Ottawa Senators began playing in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.

July 7, 1994: Construction Begins on the Palladium

On July 7, 1994, construction finally began on the arena project after a two-year period of seeking financing for the site and highway interchange.

1994: National Anthems

From 1994 until 2016, the national anthems were sung by former Ontario Provincial Police Constable Lyndon Slewidge.

1994: Senators Draft Radek Bonk

In 1994, the Senators drafted Radek Bonk.

1995: Original Jersey Sets

In 1995, the Ottawa Senators used jersey sets that were replicated in 2020 when the original logo was reintroduced.

1995: Senators Draft Bryan Berard

In 1995, the Senators drafted Bryan Berard, later trading him for Wade Redden.

1995: Bowness Fired

In late 1995, Rick Bowness was fired as head coach and replaced by Dave Allison.

1995: Senators Miss Playoffs

The 2018–19 season saw the team finish last in the NHL without their own first-round draft pick. This marked the first time since 1995–96 that the Senators missed back-to-back playoff appearances.

January 15, 1996: The Palladium Opens with Bryan Adams Concert

On January 15, 1996, The Palladium opened with a concert by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams.

January 1996: Gauthier resolves Yashin contract dispute and hires Martin

Before the end of January 1996, Pierre Gauthier resolved Yashin's contract dispute and hired Jacques Martin as head coach.

January 1996: Construction of The Palladium Completed

In January 1996, the construction of The Palladium arena was completed after 18 months of work.

February 17, 1996: Palladium Renamed Corel Centre

On February 17, 1996, The Palladium was renamed 'Corel Centre' after Corel Corporation, an Ottawa software company, signed a twenty-year naming rights deal.

1996: Daniel Alfredsson wins Calder Memorial Trophy

In 1996, Daniel Alfredsson won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year.

1996: Opening of Canadian Tire Centre

In 1996, the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Ottawa Senators, opened its doors.

1996: Senators Qualify for Playoffs

In 1996, the Ottawa Senators qualified for the playoffs in the last game of the season.

1996: Senators Draft Chris Phillips

In 1996, the Senators drafted Chris Phillips, who would later become a solid NHL player.

1997: Original Logo Era

In 1997 the Senators used the 1997-2007 logo which was eventually reintroduced in 2020

1997: Senators Nearly Defeat Buffalo Sabres in First Round

In 1997, the Ottawa Senators nearly defeated the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the playoffs.

1997: Senators Draft Marian Hossa

In 1997, the Senators drafted Marian Hossa.

1997: Radio Broadcasts on CFGO Begin

Radio broadcasts of Ottawa Senators games on CFGO began in 1997–98.

1998: Senators Upset Devils, Lose to Capitals

In 1998, the Ottawa Senators finished with their first winning record and upset the New Jersey Devils to win their first playoff series, but were later eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the second round.

1999: Senators Swept by Sabres

In 1999, the Senators had their first 100-point season, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Buffalo Sabres.

2000: Wayne Gretzky's Number Retirement

At the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, the NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all member teams.

2000: Senators Lose to Maple Leafs in Playoffs

In 2000, despite Yashin's holdout, the Ottawa Senators, led by Jacques Martin, made it to the playoffs, but lost to the Maple Leafs.

2000: Bryden appeals for tax relief

In 2000, owner Rod Bryden publicly appealed to the Government of Canada for tax relief for all Canadian NHL teams, due to a drop in the Canadian dollar.

2001: Yashin Traded for Chara and Spezza

In 2001, Alexei Yashin was traded to the New York Islanders for Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, and Jason Spezza.

2001: Senators lose to Maple Leafs

In 2001, after an upset against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Ottawa Senators pushed their second-round series to seven games, but they were ultimately defeated by the Maple Leafs. Marshall Johnston retired and was replaced by John Muckler.

2002: Sale of Ottawa Senators announced

In 2002, Rod Bryden announced the sale of the Ottawa Senators to a limited partnership for CA$186 million.

2002: Bankruptcy

In 2002, Terrace Investments, the then owner of the Ottawa Senators declared bankruptcy.

2002: Senators Get Emergency Financing

In 2002, the Ottawa Senators continued to play after getting emergency financing.

January 2003: Senators enter bankruptcy protection

In January 2003, the Ottawa Senators entered bankruptcy protection, owing CA$160 million for the club and CA$210 million for the arena.

August 2003: Eugene Melnyk purchases the Senators

In August 2003, pharmaceutical billionaire Eugene Melnyk purchased the Ottawa Senators for CA$130 million.

2003: Ownership Change

In 2003, Eugene Melnyk bought the Ottawa Senators and the arena out of bankruptcy for US$92 million.

2003: Senators Win Presidents' Trophy

In 2003, despite bankruptcy, the Ottawa Senators had an outstanding season, placing first overall in the NHL to win the Presidents' Trophy.

June 2004: Bryan Murray becomes head coach

In June 2004, Bryan Murray became the head coach of the Ottawa Senators. Patrick Lalime and Radek Bonk were traded.

2004: Red Mile in Calgary

During the Calgary Flames' 2004 Stanley Cup run, fans celebrated on the Red Mile, an event similar to the Ottawa Senators Sens Mile.

2004: Senators Face Maple Leafs in Playoffs

In the 2024-25 playoffs, the Ottawa Senators faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first postseason installment of the Battle of Ontario since the 2004 playoffs. The Maple Leafs won the series 4-2.

2005: Senators Trade Hossa for Heatley

In 2005, the Ottawa Senators traded long-time player Marian Hossa for Dany Heatley.

2005: The CASH Line Is Formed

In 2005, the newly formed 'CASH' line of Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley established itself as one of the league's top offensive lines.

2005: Previous Attendance Records

In 2005-06, the Ottawa Senators had a season total attendance of 798,453 and 33 sell-outs, which were the previous records before 2007.

January 11, 2006: Senators and Scotiabank Reach Naming Agreement

On January 11, 2006, Melnyk and Scotiabank reached a new 15-year naming agreement, worth CA$20 million, ending the 20-year contract with Corel.

January 19, 2006: Scotiabank Place Name Change

On January 19, 2006, the arena was renamed 'Scotiabank Place' after a 15-year naming agreement was reached with Scotiabank.

2006: Pay-Per-View Games

During the 2006–07 season, several Ottawa Senators games were only available in video on pay-per-view or at local movie theaters in the Ottawa area.

2006: Copper Kilometre in Edmonton

During the Edmonton Oilers' 2006 Stanley Cup run, fans celebrated on the Copper Kilometre, an event similar to the Ottawa Senators Sens Mile.

2006: Sens Army and Fan Activities

For the 2006–07 playoff run, more fans than ever before wore red. Fan activities included 'Red Rallies,' fan rallies at Ottawa City Hall Plaza, and the 'Sens Mile' along Elgin Street.

2006: Senators Face Anaheim Ducks in Stanley Cup Final

In 2006, the Ottawa Senators competed against the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Final. Anaheim won the first two games 3-2 and 1-0. Ottawa won game three 5-3, but lost game four 3-2. The Ducks secured the series with a 6-2 victory in game five, claiming their first Stanley Cup championship.

2006: Senators Place First in Conference

In 2006, the Ottawa Senators placed first in the conference and second overall with 52 wins and 113 points. Dominik Hasek was injured during the Winter Olympics.

2006: Ottawa Senators' Stanley Cup Final Appearance

In 2006, the Ottawa Senators reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1927, igniting city-wide excitement. Businesses displayed "Go Sens Go" signs, residents decorated homes and cars, and City Hall showcased a large Senators flag and video screen. A likeness of Alfredsson was hung on the Corel building. Rallies and car parades took place, and a downtown area called the "Sens Mile" was closed for fan gatherings.

2006: Trade Rumors Swirl Around Alfredsson

In 2006, trade rumours swirled around Daniel Alfredsson for most of the last months of the year.

2006: Previous Attendance Records

In 2006-07, the Ottawa Senators had a season total attendance of 794,271 and 31 sell-outs, which were the previous records before 2007.

2007: End of an Era with Departure of Stars

After the 2013-14 season, with the Ottawa Senators outside of a playoff position, the stars of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final team era came to an end as Spezza requested a trade and Hemsky moved to free agency.

2007: Sens Mile

During the 2007 playoffs, Ottawa Senators fans created a 'Sens Mile' on Elgin Street to celebrate their team's success, similar to the Red Mile in Calgary and the Copper Kilometre in Edmonton.

2007: Attendance Figures

During the 2007 regular season, the Ottawa Senators had a total attendance of 794,271 with 31 sell-outs out of 41 home dates, an average attendance of 19,372.

2007: Pay-Per-View Games

During the 2007–08 season, several Ottawa Senators games were only available in video on pay-per-view or at local movie theaters in the Ottawa area.

2007: Original Logo Era

In 2007 the Senators used the 1997-2007 logo which was eventually reintroduced in 2020

2007: Murray Takes Over as General Manager

In 2007, after the Stanley Cup Final, the Ottawa Senators' owner, Melnyk, offered Murray the General Manager position, which was accepted. Muckler's contract was expiring and he was offered another position, which he declined, leading to Murray's promotion. Murray then appointed John Paddock as head coach. Later in the year, goaltender Emery was bought out due to off-ice issues.

2007: Senators Appear in Stanley Cup Final

In 2007, the Ottawa Senators made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, but lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.

April 18, 2008: Attendance Records

On April 18, 2008, the Ottawa Senators announced record attendance figures for the 2007–08 season, with 40 sell-outs and a total attendance of 812,665, ranking third in the NHL.

September 24, 2008: Sens TV Service Suspended

As of September 24, 2008, the "Sens TV" service was suspended indefinitely.

2008: Hartsburg Hired as Senators Coach

In 2008, Craig Hartsburg was hired to coach the Ottawa Senators. The Senators struggled under Hartsburg's style, leading to cautious play due to uneven goaltending.

February 2009: Hartsburg Fired, Clouston Elevated

In February 2009, with the Ottawa Senators out of playoff contention, General Manager Murray fired coach Craig Hartsburg, who had two years remaining on his contract. Cory Clouston was then promoted from Binghamton's coaching position to replace him.

2009: Cyril Leeder Previously Served as CEO

Cyril Leeder, who was brought back as the Ottawa Senators' CEO in September 2023, previously served in the same role from 2009 to 2017.

2009: Senators' Season and Playoff Appearance

In 2009, the Ottawa Senators had a .500 season until a team-record 11-game winning streak in January. They qualified for the playoffs as the fifth seed but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the first round.

2009: Media Guide Source

The Ottawa Senators 2009-10 Media Guide served as a source for information.

2010: Sportsnet One Service Launched

In 2010, Sportsnet launched a secondary channel for selected Ottawa Senators games as part of its Sportsnet One service.

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2010: Senators' Disappointing Season

In 2010, the Ottawa Senators had a much poorer than expected season, leading to rumours of a shakeup. The team's performance worsened in January 2011 with a lengthy losing streak, intensifying media speculation about the potential firing of the coach and/or general manager.

January 22, 2011: Melnyk Publicly Addresses Team's Performance

On January 22, 2011, Ottawa Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk stated in the Ottawa Sun that he would not fire coach Clouston or General Manager Murray, but would develop a plan for the future, including potentially hiring a new general manager before the June entry draft.

June 14, 2011: Paul MacLean Hired as Head Coach

On June 14, 2011, Paul MacLean was hired as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators, replacing Cory Clouston, who was dismissed along with his assistants.

December 2011: Senators Acquire Kyle Turris

In December 2011, the Ottawa Senators acquired Kyle Turris from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for David Rundblad and a draft pick. The team improved its play and moved into a playoff position before the All-Star Game.

2011: RDS Broadcast Team

From the 2011–12 season to the 2013–14 season, Felix Seguin and former Senators goaltender Patrick Lalime were the announcers on the RDS network.

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2011: Senators' Success Challenged by Injuries

In 2011, the Ottawa Senators faced challenges in repeating their previous success due to long-term injuries to key players. Despite this, they finished seventh in the Eastern Conference.

June 18, 2013: Senators and Scotiabank End Naming Rights Deal

On June 18, 2013, the Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank ended their seven-year naming rights deal.

July 1, 2013: Arena Renamed Canadian Tire Centre

On July 1, 2013, the arena was renamed Canadian Tire Centre following a marketing agreement between the Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire.

July 5, 2013: Alfredsson Signs with Detroit, Ryan Acquired

On July 5, 2013, Daniel Alfredsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings after 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators. The Senators acquired Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks the same day.

July 8, 2013: Joe Corvo Re-Signed

On July 8, 2013, the Ottawa Senators brought back former defenseman Joe Corvo to a one-year contract.

September 14, 2013: Spezza Named Captain

On September 14, 2013, Jason Spezza was named the eighth captain in the Ottawa Senators' franchise history.

2013: RDS Broadcast Team

From the 2011–12 season to the 2013–14 season, Felix Seguin and former Senators goaltender Patrick Lalime were the announcers on the RDS network.

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April 2014: Dean Brown's departure from television broadcasts

In April 2014, Dean Brown stated that it was "extremely unlikely" that he would move to TSN and continue his role after Sportsnet East held English regional rights to the Sens.

June 2014: Paul Romanuk joins Rogers for national NHL coverage

In June 2014, Paul Romanuk was picked up by Rogers for its national NHL coverage.

2014: New Television Rights Deal

As of the 2014–15 season, Bell Media owns the regional television rights to the Senators' regular season games not broadcast nationally by Sportsnet, TVA Sports, or Hockey Night in Canada, under a 12-year contract.

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2014: Karlsson Named Captain, MacLean Fired

In 2014, Erik Karlsson was named the Ottawa Senators' ninth captain. Later in the season, unhappy with the team's performance, head coach Paul MacLean was fired and replaced with assistant coach Dave Cameron.

2014: RDS Broadcast Team Change

Starting in the 2014–15 season, Michel Y. Lacroix and Norman Flynn became the announcers on the RDS network.

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2015: Spezza Traded to Dallas Stars

After requesting a trade, Jason Spezza was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Dallas Stars in 2015.

2015: Murray Diagnosed with Cancer

During the 2014-15 season, it was announced that Murray had cancer and chose to stay on as general manager through the 2015–16 season.

2015: Senators fail to make playoffs, trade for Dion Phaneuf

In 2015, despite having the best record among Canadian teams, the Ottawa Senators failed to make the playoffs. General Manager Murray made a significant nine-player trade, acquiring Dion Phaneuf from the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline. The Senators narrowly missed a playoff spot, finishing fifth in their division.

April 10, 2016: Murray Resigns as General Manager

On April 10, 2016, the day after the final game of the 2015–16 season, Murray announced his resignation as general manager, transitioning to an advisory role within the Ottawa Senators organization. Pierre Dorion was promoted to the general manager position.

May 8, 2016: Senators Hire Guy Boucher as Head Coach

On May 8, 2016, the Ottawa Senators appointed Guy Boucher, formerly the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, as their new head coach, marking a change in leadership for the team.

June 13, 2016: Daniel Alfredsson Hired as Senior Advisor

On June 13, 2016, Daniel Alfredsson was hired by the Ottawa Senators as the senior advisor of hockey operations, bringing his experience to the team's management.

June 2016: Senators Add Rob Cookson and Pierre Groulx to Coaching Staff

In June 2016, the Ottawa Senators bolstered their coaching staff by hiring Rob Cookson as an assistant coach and Pierre Groulx as a goaltending coach.

2016: National Anthems

In 2016, Lyndon Slewidge stopped singing the national anthem, ending his run that began in 1994.

2016: Senators Finish Second in Atlantic Division and Advance in Playoffs

In 2016, the Ottawa Senators finished second in the Atlantic Division and won their first two playoff series against the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, reaching the conference finals.

2016: Travis Green Leads Senators to Postseason

Travis Green became the first head coach to lead the Ottawa Senators to the postseason since the 2016–17 season.

November 5, 2017: Senators Trade for Matt Duchene

On November 5, 2017, the Ottawa Senators acquired Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche in a significant trade involving multiple players and draft picks.

December 2017: NHL 100 Classic

One regular season highlight of the Ottawa-Montreal rivalry was the NHL 100 Classic played at TD Place Stadium outdoors in Ottawa in December 2017, celebrating the centennial of the first NHL game between the original Senators and the Canadiens.

2017: Cyril Leeder Previously Served as CEO

Cyril Leeder, who was brought back as the Ottawa Senators' CEO in September 2023, previously served in the same role from 2009 to 2017.

2018: Senators' Season Falls Apart

After trading for Matt Duchene in November 2017, the Ottawa Senators' season began to fall apart, leading to a disastrous November road trip. In 2018, the Senators hosted the NHL 100 Classic game outdoors, and chose to trade away veteran players.

2018: Senators Begin Rebuild, Trade Mike Hoffman and Draft Brady Tkachuk

During the 2018 off-season, the Ottawa Senators started a complete rebuild, trading Mike Hoffman and drafting Brady Tkachuk fourth overall in the 2018 NHL draft. They also elected to keep their first-round pick.

2018: Attendance Drop

In the 2018–19 season, the Ottawa Senators average attendance was 14,553, ranking 27th in the league.

March 1, 2019: Senators Fire Head Coach Guy Boucher

On March 1, 2019, with the team in 31st place in the league, the Ottawa Senators fired head coach Guy Boucher, replacing him with associate coach Marc Crawford for the remainder of the season.

2019: Senators Continue Rebuild

In 2019, with the Ottawa Senators out of the playoff picture, they chose to trade away veteran players and continue their rebuild.

2019: Attendance Drop

In the 2019–20 season, the Ottawa Senators average attendance dropped to 12,618, the lowest in the league.

2019: Senators Trade Erik Karlsson

Just before the start of the regular season in 2018, the Ottawa Senators traded their captain, Erik Karlsson, to the San Jose Sharks for a package of players and draft picks. In 2019, the senators continue rebuild by trading away players.

2019: Senators Hire D.J. Smith as Head Coach

Prior to the 2019–20 season, D. J. Smith was hired as the new head coach for the Ottawa Senators, as the organization shifted its focus to developing its young players.

2020: Senators Draft Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson

During the 2019-20 season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ottawa Senators finished second last in the NHL. In 2020, Ottawa had the third and fifth picks in the NHL draft and selected Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson.

2020: Cuthbert joins Sportsnet

In 2020, Chris Cuthbert joined Sportsnet, and Jon Abbott took over as the secondary play-by-play commentator in games where Miller is assigned to call the Maple Leafs.

2020: Reintroduction of 1997-2007 logo and new uniforms

In 2020, the Ottawa Senators reintroduced their 1997–2007 logo with the jersey set used from 1992 to 1995, featuring a gold outline. The new uniforms largely resembled the 1990s originals but retained the lettering font from the Adidas takeover. A "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, based on the original 1992–93 uniform but with red as the base colour, was also unveiled in 2020.

2020: Forbes Earnings Estimation

In 2020-2021, Forbes estimated that the Ottawa Sentators earned US$47 million in 2020–21 on revenue of US$157 million.

2020: Senators Miss Playoffs Again

The Ottawa Senators missed the playoffs for the 2020–21 season, which was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and featured an all-Canadian shortened season.

October 17, 2021: Tkachuk Signs Seven-Year Deal

On October 17, 2021, Brady Tkachuk signed a seven-year deal with the Ottawa Senators after a dramatic contract holdout. He was later named captain.

2021: Melnyk Promises to Spend to the Cap

After a miserable start to the 2018-19 season, owner Melnyk stated: "The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success–where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL's salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025.

March 2022: Eugene Melnyk Dies

Eugene Melnyk, the owner of the Ottawa Senators, died in March 2022 due to an unspecified illness. The team added an 'EM' patch on their jersey in his memory.

November 2022: Senators Engage Investment Banker to Facilitate Sale

In November 2022, the Ottawa Senators engaged a New York City investment banker to facilitate a potential sale of the team, with the condition that the team remain in Ottawa.

2022: Senators Aggressively Retool Team

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, the Ottawa Senators made significant efforts to exit their rebuild by acquiring forwards Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, and goaltender Cam Talbot. They also signed Norris and Stützle to contract extensions.

2022: Forbes Valuation

In 2022, Forbes magazine valued the Ottawa Senators at US$800 million, with an estimated debt/value ratio of 25%.

2022: Reverse Retro Uniforms

In the 2022-23 season, the Senators wore "Reverse Retro" uniforms, which were based on the alternates worn from 1997 to 2007, but with the current 2-D logo in front, black as the base colour and less white elements.

June 13, 2023: Senators Announce Purchase Agreement with Michael Andlauer's Group

On June 13, 2023, the Ottawa Senators announced that a purchase agreement had been signed with a group of investors led by Michael Andlauer, who is also a part-owner of the Montreal Canadiens.

September 2023: Andlauer Makes Changes to Senators' Management

In September 2023, after Michael Andlauer took over the Ottawa Senators, Cyril Leeder returned as CEO, and Steve Staios was named president of hockey operations. Staios replaced Dorion as general manager on an interim basis and was later named permanent general manager.

September 21, 2023: Andlauer Becomes Majority Owner of the Senators

On September 21, 2023, Michael Andlauer, along with his partners, officially became the majority owner of the Ottawa Senators, joining Eugene Melnyk's daughters and a group of Canadian businessmen.

December 18, 2023: Senators Fire Coach Smith

After an 11-15-0 start to the season, the Ottawa Senators fired coach Smith on December 18, 2023, with Martin stepping in as interim coach.

2023: Senators Hire Travis Green as Head Coach

During the off-season after the 2023–24 season, the Ottawa Senators announced the hiring of former Canucks and Devils head coach Travis Green.

September 2024: Expanded Arena Site Agreement

In September 2024, the Senators and the NCC agreed to expand the arena site to 10 acres from 6 acres, but the purchase was not concluded.

2024: Ottawa Leads Regular Season Series Against Toronto

As of the end of the 2024–25 season, Ottawa leads the regular season series against Toronto with a record of 76–55–3–13.

2024: Senators Clinch Playoff Berth

By the middle of the 2024–25 season the team was 28th in the league. The team improved its position as the season progressed and clinched its first playoff berth to end an eight-year drought.

2024: Abbott Leaves

In 2024, Jon Abbott left to join the Calgary Flames, and broadcaster Matt Cullen and Kenzie Lalonde split time as the backup to Miller.

August 27, 2025: Allen Americans Become Official Minor-League Affiliate

On August 27, 2025, it was announced that the Allen Americans of the ECHL will once again be an official minor-league affiliate of the Ottawa Senators, starting with the 2025–26 season, joining the Belleville Senators of the AHL.

2025: Melnyk Promises to Spend to the Cap

After a miserable start to the 2018-19 season, owner Melnyk stated: "The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success–where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL's salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025.

2025: Dorion's contract was extended

Before the 2021–22 season, general manager Dorion's contract was extended until 2025.

2025: Unveiling of red alternate uniform

Prior to the 2025–26 season, the Senators unveiled a red alternate uniform, using the primary logo as the crest with gold and black stripes along the waist, shoulders, and sleeves.

April 4, 2026: Update

Content was updated on April 4, 2026.

2026: Radio contract extended.

In 2026, the contract with CFGO to broadcast Senators games on the radio as part of Bell Media's rights deal was extended through the 2025-2026 season.