2020–21 Ottawa Senators season

The 2020–21 Ottawa Senators season is the 29th season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators will attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016–17 season.

2020–21 Ottawa Senators
2020–21 record2–10–1
Home record1–4–1
Road record1–6–0
Goals for29
Goals against55
Team information
General managerPierre Dorion
CoachD. J. Smith
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsThomas Chabot
Erik Gudbranson
Brady Tkachuk
ArenaCanadian Tire Centre
Minor league affiliate(s)Belleville Senators (AHL)
Brampton Beast (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsTim Stuetzle (4)
AssistsThree tied (5)
PointsThree tied (7)
Penalty minutesAustin Watson (23)
Plus/minusNick Paul (+3)
WinsMatt Murray (2)
Goals against averageMatt Murray (3.88)

Due to the Canada-U.S. border restrictions brought in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL realigned its divisions. The Senators were re-aligned with the other six Canadian franchises into the newly-formed North Division. The league's 56-game season is to be played entirely within the new divisions, meaning that Ottawa and the other Canadian teams will play an all-Canadian schedule for the 2020–21 regular season as well as the first two rounds of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Team business

The team introduced three new jerseys for the season. Two were updated versions of the team's original jerseys used from 1992–1997 and a third was a "Reverse Retro" incorporating the style of the black original jersey, using red as the base colour instead.

In December 2020, the team announced a seven-year extension of its lease with the city of Belleville, Ontario. The Belleville Senators will remain in Belleville as the Ottawa Senators' top farm team through the 2026–27 AHL season.[1]

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team's home games for the 2020–21 regular season will be played without spectators. The Government of Ontario granted permission for the team to play in its home arena.[2] Owner Eugene Melnyk made public his proposal to seat up to 6,000 fans, but withdrew the proposal after criticism.

In January 2021, former team GM John Muckler passed away and was honoured at the first game. Muckler was the team's general manager when the team played in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Also in January 2021, the team's former head of graphic design Kevin Caradonna passed away. Caradonna had designed the "forward-facing" logo used from 1997 until 2020 and the team's mascot "Spartacat."[3]

Off-season

The Senators parted ways with long-time goaltender Craig Anderson, announcing that they would not offer him a new contract. The team also parted ways with forward Bobby Ryan, buying out his contract. Anderson signed with Washington and Ryan signed with Detroit. The team did not offer contracts to Mark Borowiecki and Anthony Duclair who signed elsewhere as free agents. The team also traded players on the long-term injured list: Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who could use the contracts for salary cap relief.

On the second day of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the team traded for veteran Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, giving up a 2020 second-round pick and Jonathan Gruden, a 2018 fourth-round pick. The team picked up several veterans in trades, including Braydon Coburn, Erik Gudbranson, Cedric Paquette, Derek Stepan and Austin Watson. The team acquired NHL veterans Evgenii Dadonov and Alexander Galchenyuk as free agents.

Regular season

The team played its first game of the season on January 15, 2021, defeating the "Battle of Ontario" rival Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre. It was the team's first game in 310 days. The team had nine new players in the lineup, including 2020 first-round pick Tim Stuetzle.

Standings
North Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 Toronto Maple Leafs 13 10 2 1 9 48 34 +14 21
2 Montreal Canadiens 12 8 2 2 8 48 31 +17 18
3 Winnipeg Jets 11 7 3 1 5 39 32 +7 15
4 Edmonton Oilers 14 7 7 0 6 49 50 −1 14
5 Vancouver Canucks 16 6 10 0 5 50 63 −13 12
6 Calgary Flames 11 5 5 1 4 33 31 +2 11
7 Ottawa Senators 13 2 10 1 2 29 55 −26 5
Updated to game(s) played on February 8, 2021. Source: National Hockey League[4]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater amount of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater amount of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater amount of goals scored (GF)

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[5]

2020–21 game log
February: 1–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
10February 2Ottawa2–4EdmontonHogberg01–8–13Recap
11February 4Ottawa3–2MontrealMurray02–8–15Recap
12February 6Montreal2–1OttawaMurray02–9–15Recap
13February 8Edmonton3–1OttawaMurray02–10–15Recap
14February 9EdmontonOttawa
15February 11OttawaWinnipeg
16February 13OttawaWinnipeg
17February 15OttawaToronto
18February 17OttawaToronto
19February 18OttawaToronto
20February 21MontrealOttawa
21February 23MontrealOttawa
22February 25CalgaryOttawa
23February 27CalgaryOttawa

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Players

Skaters
Regular season[6]
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Brady Tkachuk13347−620
Thomas Chabot12347−520
Josh Norris13257−42
Tim Stuetzle10426−84
Drake Batherson13156−74
Austin Watson13325−423
Chris Tierney13325−26
Nick Paul1323534
Connor Brown13145−24
Nikita Zaitsev13055−14
Colin White9224−64
Evgenii Dadonov13224−70
Derek Stepan12134−76
Mike Reilly12044−104
Erik Gudbranson13022−1118
Artyom Zub5022-14
Alex Galchenyuk6101−54
Cedric Paquette9101−84
Braydon Coburn8011−54
Artem Anisimov4011−32
Erik Brannstrom301112
Josh Brown8000−58
Christian Wolanin4000−32
Micheal Haley100005
Filip Chlapik100010

Goaltenders
Regular season[7]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Matt Murray1010526:21261343.88290.8830000
Marcus Hogberg53251:00040194.54122.8440000

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Senators. Stats reflect time with the Senators only.
‡No longer with team.

Current roster

Updated February 7, 2021[8][9]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
51 Artem Anisimov C L 32 2019 Yaroslavl, Soviet Union
19 Drake Batherson RW R 22 2017 Fort Wayne, Indiana
26 Erik Brannstrom D L 21 2019 Eksjö, Sweden
28 Connor Brown RW R 27 2019 Toronto, Ontario
3 Josh Brown D R 27 2020 London, Ontario
27 Logan Brown C L 22 2016 Raleigh, North Carolina
72 Thomas Chabot (A) D L 24 2015 Sainte-Marie, Quebec
55 Braydon Coburn D L 35 2020 Calgary, Alberta
34 Joey Daccord G L 24 2015 North Andover, Massachusetts
63 Evgenii Dadonov RW L 31 2020 Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union
17 Alex Galchenyuk LW L 26 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
44 Erik Gudbranson (A) D R 29 2020 Ottawa, Ontario
38 Micheal Haley LW L 34 2020 Guelph, Ontario
1 Marcus Hogberg G L 26 2013 Örebro, Sweden
30 Matt Murray G L 26 2020 Thunder Bay, Ontario
9 Josh Norris C L 21 2018 Oxford, Michigan
23 Cedric Paquette C L 27 2020 Gaspé, Quebec
13 Nick Paul LW L 25 2014 Mississauga, Ontario
5 Mike Reilly D L 27 2020 Chicago, Illinois
21 Derek Stepan C R 30 2020 Hastings, Minnesota
18 Tim Stuetzle LW L 19 2020 Viersen, Germany
71 Chris Tierney C L 26 2018 Keswick, Ontario
7 Brady Tkachuk (A) LW L 21 2018 Scottsdale, Arizona
16 Austin Watson RW R 29 2020 Ann Arbor, Michigan
36 Colin White C R 24 2015 Hanover, Massachusetts
24 Christian Wolanin  D L 25 2015 Quebec City, Quebec
22 Nikita Zaitsev D R 29 2019 Moscow, Soviet Union
2 Artyom Zub D R 25 2020 Khabarovsk, Russia

Milestones
PlayerMilestoneDate
Tim Stuetzle1st career NHL gameJanuary 15, 2021
Matt Murray200th career NHL gameJanuary 15, 2021
Josh Norris1st career NHL assist
1st career NHL point		January 15, 2021
Tim Stuetzle1st career NHL goal
1st career NHL point		January 16, 2021
Josh Norris1st career NHL goalJanuary 19, 2021
Josh Brown100th career NHL gameJanuary 28, 2021
Artyom Zub1st career NHL game
1st career NHL assist
1st career NHL point		January 31, 2021
Tim Stuetzle1st career NHL assistFebruary 4, 2021

Transactions

The Senators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020–21 season.

Trades
DateDetailsRef
October 7, 2020 (2020-10-07) To Pittsburgh Penguins
Jonathan Gruden
CBJ's 2nd-round pick (52nd) in 2020		 To Ottawa Senators
Matt Murray		 [10]
October 7, 2020 (2020-10-07) To Toronto Maple Leafs
NYI's 2nd-round pick (59th) in 2020
3rd-round pick (64th) in 2020		 To Ottawa Senators
2nd-round pick (44th) in 2020		 [11]
October 8, 2020 (2020-10-08) To Anaheim Ducks
EDM's 5th-round pick in 2021		 To Ottawa Senators
Erik Gudbranson		 [12]
October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) To Nashville Predators
COL's 4th-round pick in 2021		 To Ottawa Senators
Austin Watson		 [13]
December 21, 2020 (2020-12-21) To Nashville Predators
Michael Carcone		 To Ottawa Senators
Zach Magwood		 [14]
December 26, 2020 (2020-12-26) To Arizona Coyotes
CBJ's 2nd-round pick in 2021		 To Ottawa Senators
Derek Stepan		 [15]
December 27, 2020 (2020-12-27) To Tampa Bay Lightning
Marian Gaborik
Anders Nilsson		 To Ottawa Senators
Braydon Coburn
Cedric Paquette
2nd round pick in 2022		 [16]
January 12, 2021 (2021-01-12) To Carolina Hurricanes
Maxime Lajoie		 To Ottawa Senators
Clark Bishop		 [17]
January 27, 2021 (2021-01-27) To San Jose Sharks
Christian Jaros		 To Ottawa Senators
Jack Kopacka
7th round pick in 2022		 [18]

Free agents
DatePlayerTeamContract termSource
May 19, 2020 (2020-05-19)Mikkel Boedkerto HC Lugano (Swiss NL)1-year[19]
July 22, 2020 (2020-07-22)Jordan Szwarzto Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)1-year[20]
September 20, 2020 (2020-09-20)Andreas Englundto Vasterviks IK (Allsv)1-year[21]
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)Mark Borowieckito Nashville Predators2-year[22]
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)Logan Shawfrom Winnipeg Jets2-year, two-way[23]
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)Bobby Ryanto Detroit Red Wings1-year[24]
October 15, 2020 (2020-10-15)Evgenii Dadonovfrom Florida Panthers3-year[25]
October 16, 2020 (2020-10-16)Scott Sabourinto Toronto Marlies (AHL)1-year[26]
October 19, 2020 (2020-10-19)Jayce Hawrylukto Vancouver Canucks1-year, two-way[27]
October 28, 2020 (2020-10-28)Alex Galchenyukfrom Minnesota Wild1-year[28]
November 13, 2020 (2020-11-13)Micheal Haleyfrom New York Rangers1-year, two-way[29]
December 17, 2020 (2020-12-17)Anthony Duclairto Florida Panthers1-year[30]
January 13, 2021 (2021-01-13)Craig Andersonto Washington Capitals1-year[31]

Waivers
DatePlayerTeamRef
January 12, 2021 (2021-01-12)Rudolfs Balcersto San Jose Sharks[32]


Signings
DatePlayerContract termSource
October 5, 2020Josh Brown2 years[33]
October 9, 2020Matt Murray4 years[34]
October 9, 2020Matthew Peca1 year, two-way[23]
October 14, 2020Nick Paul2 years[35]
October 16, 2020Rudolfs Balcers1 year, two-way[36]
October 17, 2020Joey Daccord3 year, two-way[37]
October 19, 2020J.C. Beaudin1 year, two-way[38]
October 22, 2020Connor Brown3 years[39]
October 26, 2020Chris Tierney2 years[40]
October 27, 2020Filip Chlapik1 year, two-way[41]
November 4, 2020Christian Jaros1 year, two-way[42]
November 20, 2020Egor Sokolov3 year, entry-level[43]
December 27, 2020Tim Stuetzle3 year, entry-level[44]
December 29, 2020Ridly Greig3 year, entry-level[45]

Draft picks
See also: List of Ottawa Senators draft picks

Below are the Ottawa Senators' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round Overall Player Position Nationality Club team
1 3 Tim Stuetzle C  Germany Adler Mannheim (DEL)
1 5 Jake Sanderson D  United States U.S. NTDP (USHL)
1 28 Ridly Greig C Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2 33 Roby Jarventie LW Finland Ilves Tampere (SM-liiga)
2 44 Tyler Kleven D  United States U.S. NTDP (USHL)
2 61 Egor Sokolov LW Russia Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL)
3 71 Leevi Merilainen G Finland Karpat (SM-liiga)
5 155 Eric Engstrand LW Sweden Malmö Redhawks (SHL)
6 158 Philippe Daoust LW Canada Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
6 181 Cole Reinhardt LW Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

References
  1. Tidcombe, Matt (December 9, 2020). "Belleville Senators extend lease with city" (Press release). Ottawa Senators – via nhl.com.
  2. Casaletto, Lucas (January 7, 2021). "Maple Leafs granted permission to play NHL home games in Toronto". 680 News.
  3. Deachman, Bruce (January 16, 2021). "Obit: Spartacat and Sens logo designer Kevin Caradonna 'lived larger than life'". The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  4. "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  5. "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  6. "NHL.com - Stats - Ottawa Senators Skaters - Regular season". NHL.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  7. "NHL.com - Stats - Ottawa Senators Goalies - Regular season". NHL.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  8. "Ottawa Senators Roster". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  9. "Ottawa Senators Hockey Transactions". The Sports Network. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  10. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 7, 2020). "Ottawa Senators acquire goaltender Matt Murray from Pittsburgh" (Press release). Retrieved October 7, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  11. {{}}
  12. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 8, 2020). "Ottawa Senators acquire defenceman Erik Gudbranson from Anaheim" (Press release). Retrieved October 8, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  13. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 10, 2020). "Ottawa Senators acquire forward Austin Watson from Nashville" (Press release). Retrieved October 10, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  14. Ottawa Senators Communications (December 21, 2020). "Ottawa Senators acquire Zach Magwood from Nashville" (Press release). Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  15. Ottawa Senators Communications (December 26, 2020). "Ottawa Senators acquire forward Derek Stepan from Arizona" (Press release). Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  16. Ottawa Senators Communications (December 27, 2020). "Ottawa Senators complete trade with Tampa Bay Lightning" (Press release). Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via nhl.com.
  17. Ottawa Senators Communications (January 12, 2021). "Ottawa Senators acquire forward Clark Bishop from Carolina" (Press release). Retrieved January 12, 2021 – via nhl.com.
  18. Ottawa Senators Communications (January 27, 2021). "Ottawa Senators acquire forward Jack Kopacka, draft pick from San Jose" (Press release). Retrieved January 27, 2021 – via nhl.com.
  19. "HC Lugano signs Mikkel Bødker to a two-year contract". swisshockeynews.ch. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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  21. "NHL experienced defenseman Englund joins VIK" (Press release) (in Swedish). Västerviks IK. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
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  24. Kujawa, Kyle (October 9, 2020). "Red Wings agree to one-year deal with Bobby Ryan". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  25. Sens Communications (October 15, 2020). "Senators sign Evgenii Dadonov to a three-year contract" (Press release). National Hockey League. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  26. "Marlies Sign Forward Scott Sabourin" (Press release). Toronto Marlies. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  27. "Canucks sign centre Jayce Hawryluk to a one-year, two-way contract" (Press release). National Hockey League. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  28. Sens Communications (October 28, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward Alex Galchenyuk to a one-year contract" (Press release). National Hockey League. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  29. Sens Communications (November 13, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward Micheal Haley to one year, two-way contract" (Press release). National Hockey League. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  30. NHL (December 17, 2020). "Florida Panthers agree to terms with forward Anthony Duclair" (Press release). National Hockey League. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  31. TSN (January 13, 2021). "Washington Capitals sign goaltender Craig Anderson, place him on waivers" (Press release). TSN. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  32. "Jets, Oilers, Senators each lose players on waiver wire". Sportsnet. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  33. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 5, 2020). "Senators sign defenceman Josh Brown to a two-year contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  34. Sportsnet (October 9, 2020). "Senators sign Matt Murray to four-year, $25M extension" (Press release). Sportsnet. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  35. TSN (October 14, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward Nick Paul to two-year deal" (Press release). TSN. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  36. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 16, 2020). "Senators sign forward Rudolfs Balcers to a one-year, two-way contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  37. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 17, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign goaltender Joey Daccord to a three-year contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  38. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 19, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward J.C. Beaudin to a one-year, two-way contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  39. Ottawa Senators Communcations (October 22, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward Connor Brown to a three-year contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  40. TSN (October 26, 2020). "Ottawa Senators, Chris Tierney reach two-year deal". tsn.ca (Press release). Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  41. Ottawa Senators Communications (October 27, 2020). "Ottawa Senators sign forward Filip Chlapik to a one-year, two-way contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  42. Ottawa Senators Communications (November 4, 2020). "Senators sign defenceman Christian Jaros to a one-year, two-way contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  43. Ottawa Senators Communications (November 20, 2020). "Senators sign forward Egor Sokolov to a three-year, entry-level contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  44. Ottawa Senators Communications (December 27, 2020). "Senators sign forward Tim Stuetzle to a three-year, entry-level contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  45. Ottawa Senators Communications (December 29, 2020). "Senators sign forward Ridly Greig to a three-year, entry-level contract". nhl.com (Press release). Retrieved December 29, 2020.
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