Built for the Grind: How Ottawa's Early Resilience Sets a Season-Long Blueprint
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Despite a rash of injuries to key personnel, the Senators' 5-1-0 start suggests a roster capable of absorbing blows and maintaining elite production.
In the grueling landscape of an 82-game NHL schedule, the difference between a flash in the pan and a legitimate contender often comes down to a team's ability to absorb trauma. For the Ottawa Senators, the opening stretch of the 2026-27 campaign has been a trial by fire.
As first reported by Sportsnet, the Senators have blasted out of the gates with a 5-1-0 record, securing five wins in a span of just 10 nights. This success is particularly striking given that Ottawa was the final team in the league to begin its season on Oct. 3, and they have since faced a barrage of injuries to cornerstone players.
**Opinion: The blueprint for survival**
Ottawa's resilience suggests something more systemic. To maintain a winning trajectory while losing key personnel is a demonstration of roster depth and mental fortitude. By overcoming these early hurdles, the Senators are proving they possess the structural integrity required to survive the Atlantic Division's competitive grind.
According to Sportsnet, the injury list has been extensive. All-world defenseman Jake Sanderson has seen fewer than five minutes of ice time this season after an early exit in the season-opening victory against Toronto, and the blue line has been without Artem Zub for the entirety of the season. Furthermore, William Eklund—the former San Jose Shark brought in as a replacement for former captain Brady Tkachuk—is expected to miss an extended period after an ankle injury during a Thursday game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Even the crease has seen instability. Linus Ullmark suffered an injury scare during a game in Boston last week, though it proved to be of minor consequence.
Despite these absences, the Senators have not missed a beat. With Sanderson and Zub sidelined, new captain Thomas Chabot has stepped into a massive role. Sportsnet reports that Chabot is currently averaging 27:14 of ice time per game, the second-highest mark in the NHL, trailing only Columbus's Zach Werenski (29:35). This workload has provided a window for rookie Carter Yakemchuk, the 2024 seventh-overall pick, to prove he can hold his own at the professional level.
Offensively, the team is being propelled by Tim Stutzle. Sportsnet describes the German center as the "straw that stirs the Sens' offensive drink," noting that Stutzle has recorded 10 points through six games, including his fifth goal of the season in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Monday night. Ullmark has also been a stabilizing force, stopping 29 of 30 shots in the Devils win and maintaining a league-best .948 save percentage.
As the Senators look forward, Sportsnet suggests the return of Sanderson and Zub will transform the defensive corps into a significantly stronger unit. With five of their next six games scheduled at home, Ottawa is well-positioned to capitalize on this early-season momentum.