“It’s been a long eight years”: Brady Tkachuk and Ottawa Senators re-ignite fanbase with passionate playoff return

Ottawa Senators (via Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators may have fallen short in their first playoff series since 2017, but the sentimental farewell on home ice was a definite sign: this team has re-ignited its connection with the fanbase. After their bid for a return was thwarted in a 4-2 Game 6 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators took their ice exit to deafening standing applause of a mostly filled Canadian Tire Centre, in which “Go Sens Go” and “Brady, Brady, Brady” rang long into the night, well past the last buzzer.

Ottawa Senators’ youth core, led by Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, has a bright future

Brady Tkachuk, who led the Ottawa Senators with seven points in the series, called the support ‘unreal’, highlighting the bond between the team and their dedicated fans, who had to wait eight long years to witness playoff hockey again. Though they were ousted, the Ottawa Senators proved they belong in the playoff picture—and their youth ensured the point was made. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa’s first big piece of their rebuild, scored four goals in the six-game series, embodying both leadership and aggression.

He didn’t do it by himself. Tim Stutzle had five points; so did Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, and Drake Batherson — all of whom were draft picks during the rebuilding process—each having their moment in the spotlight that will be remembered. Sanderson’s Game 4 overtime goal and Pinto’s shorthanded breakaway in Game 5 brought the Battle of Ontario to life, forcing the heavily favored Maple Leafs to sweat out their advancement.

“It’s been a long eight years for them, and to experience it, honestly, I don’t really realize the impact that it’s made on me and this team,” Tkachuk said. “Just really want to do it for them. They were absolutely amazing, and I know it sucks right now, but I really can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Senior defenseman Thomas Chabot, who got to see playoff hockey on the ice for the first time this season, felt the same way.

Veterans and new additions show Senators’ commitment to a winning culture

To complement their youthful base, Ottawa took bold action in the previous two seasons — acquiring or signing veteran faces like Claude Giroux, David Perron, Linus Ullmark, and Dylan Cozens. Not only did these help drive Ottawa’s second-half playoff push, but they also served as a statement of intent by the management.

Puck-stopper Linus Ullmark, who performed under pressure in a series of high-stakes situations, exemplified the team’s direction: “I’m really happy with the way that we have taken strides to become a better, a more stable team that’s going – hopefully, for a long time going to always be up there and battle for the playoffs and the Stanley Cup.”

The Senators saved the sweep with dramatic wins against Toronto in Games 4 and 5, on the brink of being just the 11th team in NHL history to force a Game 7 against a team that had previously possessed a 3-0 series advantage. That dream didn’t come true, but the effort was enough to remind the league that Ottawa is no longer rebuild country — they’re on the upswing.

In the meantime, as the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face the Florida Panthers — a second Atlantic Division powerhouse — the Ottawa Senators cruise into the offseason with their heads held high and eyes set on an even stronger, tighter division next season.