Will the Senators Make the Playoffs?

The Ottawa Senators have made the playoffs in two straight seasons as they prepare for life without Brady Tkachuk. Can they secure a postseason berth without their former captain? 

Senators Playoff Odds: Will Ottawa Make the Playoffs? 

The Senators have the same -110 hockey odds at the BetMGM sportsbook to make and miss the playoffs. I’m leaning toward the miss side of the pick ’em bet. 

The Senators were superb down the stretch last season, sporting the second-best points percentage (.742), tied with the Buffalo Sabres, in the final 31 games. 

Maybe the collective will band together and get the most out of each other in Tkachuk’s absence. 

While that’s a distinct possibility, I expect several teams, including the Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, and Florida Panthers, to be much better next season. 

And I don’t think the sum of their parts is good enough to make the playoffs. The Sens acquired William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks after dealing Tkachuk. 

Eklund might be asked to step up and play on the first line. That’s a lot to ask of the 23-year-old. He’s capable, but I don’t see that potential move striking fear into opponents, at least in his first season in the nation’s capital. 

The Senators re-signed Claude Giroux to a one-year deal. The importance of his leadership is unsurpassed in Ottawa, but the veteran is 38 and coming off his worst offensive season.

That trajectory will only continue to decline.

Nick Cousins also inked a two-year extension, which was an important bit of business for the Sens to get over the line. 

But unless they make a significant improvement or two, particularly on offence, I’m expecting the Sens to be on the outside of the playoff picture at season’s end.