The air in Canada`s capital is different. It`s not just the crisp autumn breeze; it’s the scent of ambition, thick and palpable, radiating from the Ottawa Senators’ camp. After years in the wilderness, watching the NHL playoffs from afar, the Sens finally broke their seven-year drought last season. A collective sigh of relief, followed by a roar of anticipation, swept through the fanbase. But as the 2025-26 season dawns, that relief has quickly morphed into a more demanding emotion: hunger.
From “Good” to “Great”: A New Mantra for the Ottawa Senators
The team`s new mantra, unequivocally stated by Coach Travis Green and echoed by General Manager Steve Staios, isn`t merely about repeating past successes. It`s about transcending them.
“We`re here not just to make the playoffs either. We`re here to do a lot more than that,” Green declared as training camp opened.
This isn`t just sports-speak; it`s a fundamental shift in philosophy. Making the playoffs was the prerequisite; winning the Stanley Cup is now the objective.
For a franchise that has been “good” many times – memorable runs in 2003, 2007, and a Cinderella story in 2017 stand out, including a lone Stanley Cup Final appearance – the distinction between “good” and “great” is critical. “Good” is admirable, competitive, and makes for exciting regular seasons. “Great” means lifting the ultimate prize, etching names into hockey history, and turning potential into indelible legacy. It`s the difference between a commendable effort and undisputed triumph in the high-stakes world of NHL hockey.
The Weight of Elevated Expectations and the Path Ahead
Coach Green and GM Staios, while maintaining a suitably professional guardedness about their precise targets, left no room for ambiguity. Simply being “good” this season will not suffice. This increased expectation is a double-edged sword. It signifies progress, a recognition of the talent and development within the Ottawa Senators team, but it also piles immense pressure on every player, every coach, and every front office decision.
“They (the players) understand that it`s not going to get easier,” Green observed with a pragmatic realism that suggests he`s well-acquainted with the brutal arithmetic of championship hockey. “It gets harder. Everyone says they want to win a Stanley Cup. It`s hard to do. It`s not easy.”
Indeed. The path to hockey`s most coveted trophy is paved with grit, resilience, and often, heartbreak. It demands a level of consistent excellence that few teams achieve in the demanding Eastern Conference.
The Ottawa Senators now face the arduous task of translating potential into consistent performance under the harshest spotlight. It`s a journey that goes beyond individual talent, demanding collective synergy, mental fortitude, and the ability to perform when the stakes are highest. The experience gained from last season`s playoff berth, however brief, will be invaluable. It`s a taste of what`s required, a live demonstration of the intensity that separates regular season contenders from genuine championship aspirations.
A City Yearns for Glory: The Ultimate Challenge
The city of Ottawa, long starved for sustained hockey glory, watches with bated breath. The initial euphoria of ending the playoff drought has matured into a focused anticipation. Fans are no longer just hoping for respectability; they are yearning for supremacy. This 2025-26 NHL season, the Senators aren`t just playing for wins; they`re playing for history. And in the brutally honest world of professional sports, history is only written by those who dare to be truly great. The stage is set, the expectations are clear, and the challenge is monumental. Welcome to the new era of Senators hockey, where “good enough” is simply not good enough.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow