Staios credits Senators for rebounding after poor start to season

By Canadian Press on November 10, 2025.

OTTAWA — An Ottawa Senators team that left points on the table early in the season seems to have righted the ship, according to hockey operations head Steve Staios.

The team, struggling weight of playoff expectations, stumbled out of the gate while dealing with the loss of captain Brady Tkachuk to injury.

But Staios, the team’s general manager and president of hockey operations, believes the Senators are finding their stride as they approach the one-quarter mark of the season in third place in the Atlantic Division.

“I was a little surprised on our start, to be quite honest,” Staios told reporters Monday. “You hope with the continuation of last year — similar group coming back, same coaching staff — that we would have been on our game early.

“I think we’ve grown into it playing to our identity more now, but some early stumbles, I thought we pissed away some points early on, but feel like we’re getting closer to playing to our identity. Full credit to the group.”

Staios believes the slow start wasn’t due to poor preparation, but rather the team’s eagerness to prove itself after breaking through last year with its first playoff appearance in seven years.

“We have a very well-intended group, and I’ve stated that a number of times, and they’re eager to prove themselves, and they’re eager to compete,” he said. “I want to believe that expectations were one thing that is new to this group, making the playoffs last year, trying to get to that level right away. I think that might have been part of it.”

Staios sees the recent stretch as a turning point, noting that strong defensive play against Washington and Boston helped spark the team. With points in five straight games (3-0-2), the Senators appear to have rediscovered the structured, checking-focused style that defines their best hockey.

The Senators were dealt a significant blow when Tkachuk suffered an injury in just the third game of the season, and the team announced he would miss the next six to eight weeks. Staios credited the team for not using the injury as an excuse.

“Well, I think we’ve handled it well. … I think in the past, the group, the environment around here would have been pointed right towards that,” Staios said. “And we, I think (head coach Travis Green) has done a great job of not building in excuses.”

In the first few games without Tkachuk, Staios felt the team may have been trying to do too much to make up for the absence.

“I think the first couple of games, you could see our guys were again trying to play, they’re even a little bit more exuberant to try and make sure that we weren’t going to miss a step,” Staios said. “But I think that the strength is in the group and in the team, and the way that we play, the way that we’re coached, the commitment, the character of this group, that’s, you know, that’s our that’s our identity.”

Among those leading by example has been centre Tim Stutzle, whose two-way play has taken another step.

“He’s rounding out his game on the other side of the puck as well, that commitment to playing on the defensive side has been sort of the biggest area of growth for him,” Staios said. “And as you can see now, now he’s taking pride in being on the penalty kill.”

Goaltender Linus Ullmark has faced scrutiny after a tumultuous start, but Staios expressed full confidence.

“I believe in Linus, the team believes in Linus,” Staios said.

Staios said Ullmark faced some tough luck early on, but he’s in excellent shape, rounding into form and remains the team’s clear long-term starter, with Leevi Merilainen continuing to develop behind him.

Contract talks with forward Shane Pinto are ongoing, with Staios confirming “continued good dialogue” and another meeting scheduled this week.

Eighteen months into Green’s tenure behind the bench, Staios praised the coach’s impact.

“We set out to change a culture and an environment,” said Staios. “He’s held a high bar of accountability. He’s got a great ability to communicate with his players. He’s open, he’s honest, and he’s firm.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2025.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press