The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators play their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
Ice hockey has a long and storied history in Ottawa. The original Ottawa Senators were one of the founding franchises of the NHL in 1917. The original Senators played in the NHL until 1934 when the franchise relocated to St. Louis. After decades without an NHL team, Ottawa was awarded an expansion franchise in 1990. The new Ottawa Senators began play in 1992 and have established themselves as an important part of the Ottawa sports scene. The Senators have qualified for the playoffs in 16 of their 27 seasons.
Canadian Tire Centre
The Canadian Tire Centre has been the home arena of the Ottawa Senators since January 1996. The arena has a capacity of 18,572 for hockey games. It is located in the western suburb of Kanata on the outskirts of Ottawa. The Canadian Tire Centre was known as The Palladium from 1996 to 2006 and Scotiabank Place from 2006 to 2013. Besides the Senators, the arena has also hosted the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, 2015 Women’s World Ice Hockey Championships, and the 2017 Memorial Cup.
Previous Home Arenas
Before moving to the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators played at the Ottawa Civic Centre from 1992 to 1996. The Civic Centre was an old arena that seated only 10,500 fans. It lacked amenities and revenue-generating luxury suites. The Senators lobbied for a new publicly-funded arena and reached an agreement with the provincial and municipal governments to construct what became the Palladium in Kanata.
The original Senators played at the Ottawa Auditorium from 1917 to 1923 and the Ottawa Arena from 1924 to 1934. The 7,500 seat Ottawa Auditorium was located in downtown Ottawa and was destroyed by a fire in 1923. At the time, the Ottawa Arena had the largest ice surface in the NHL. Unfortunately, the original Senators could not survive the Great Depression and moved to St. Louis in 1934.
Ownership and Management
The Ottawa Senators are owned by Eugene Melnyk who purchased the club in 2003. Melnyk is a Canadian businessman who also owns the Toronto AHL franchise. The Senators were previously owned by Rod Bryden from 1992 to 2003. Bryden faced financial difficulties leading to the franchise declaring bankruptcy in 2003 before being purchased by Melnyk.
The Senators are managed by general manager Pierre Dorion and coached by D.J. Smith. Dorion took over as GM in 2016, while Smith was hired as head coach in 2019. Notable alumni in the Senators front office include former GM Bryan Murray and former coach Jacques Martin.
On-Ice Success
Despite being one of the NHL’s newer franchises, the Senators have enjoyed considerable on-ice success:
- 16 playoff appearances in 27 seasons
- Won 9 playoff series
- Advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007
- Won 4 division titles
- Featured superstar players like Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, Erik Karlsson, and Jason Spezza
The Senators incredible 2003 playoff run took them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the only time in franchise history in 2007 before ultimately losing to the Anaheim Ducks.
Players
Over the years, the Senators have been home to many talented players, including Hockey Hall of Famers, perennial All-Stars, and fan favorites. Here are some of the most notable players in Senators history:
Player | Position | Years with Senators |
---|---|---|
Daniel Alfredsson | Right Wing | 1995-2013 |
Erik Karlsson | Defenseman | 2009-2018 |
Dany Heatley | Left Wing | 2005-2009 |
Jason Spezza | Center | 2002-2014 |
Wade Redden | Defenseman | 1995-2008 |
Chris Phillips | Defenseman | 1997-2015 |
Daniel Alfredsson is the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists and points. The long-time captain spent 17 seasons in Ottawa and led the team to their only Stanley Cup appearance. Erik Karlsson won two Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman during his time in Ottawa.
Coaches
The Senators have employed 11 head coaches in their history. Here is the coaching history for the franchise:
Coach | Seasons |
---|---|
Rick Bowness | 1992-1996 |
Dave Allison | 1995-1996 |
Jacques Martin | 1996-2004 |
Roger Neilson | 2002-2003 |
Bryan Murray | 2004-2007 |
John Paddock | 2007-2008 |
Craig Hartsburg | 2008-2009 |
Cory Clouston | 2009-2011 |
Paul MacLean | 2011-2014 |
Dave Cameron | 2014-2016 |
Guy Boucher | 2016-2019 |
D.J. Smith | 2019-Present |
Jacques Martin had the longest tenure guiding the Senators for 8 seasons. Bryan Murray served as GM and head coach during his time in Ottawa. Current coach D.J. Smith is in his 4th season with the team.
Conclusion
The Ottawa Senators have played their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata since 1996. The franchise has enjoyed on-ice success, featuring stars like Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson, since joining the NHL as an expansion team in 1992. The Senators came close to winning their first Stanley Cup in 2007, losing in the Finals. With a passionate fan base and strong hockey tradition, the Senators are an important part of the Ottawa sports landscape and continue working to bring a championship to Canada’s capital city.