Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators’ story begins long before the modern NHL era, with the original Senators, founded in 1883 as the Ottawa Hockey Club. They became one of hockey’s earliest dynasties, winning 11 Stanley Cups and producing legends like Frank Nighbor, Cy Denneny, and King Clancy. Despite their dominance, financial pressures during the Great Depression forced the franchise to relocate in 1934, leaving behind a legacy that helped define the sport’s early identity.

Nearly sixty years later, Ottawa’s deep hockey roots inspired a successful bid to bring the Senators back. The modern franchise, awarded in 1990 and debuting in 1992, endured difficult early seasons but gradually built a competitive core through strong drafting. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Senators had become a perennial contender, highlighted by a Presidents’ Trophy in 2003 and a trip to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, driven by the iconic Alfredsson–Spezza–Heatley “CASH Line.” The team later experienced cycles of rebuilds and resurgence, including a dramatic run to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final led by Erik Karlsson’s remarkable postseason performance. After the passing of longtime owner Eugene Melnyk, the franchise entered a new era under Michael Andlauer, who purchased the team in 2023 with a focus on stability, modernization, and long-term competitiveness. Today’s Senators, anchored by young stars like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Jake Sanderson, represent the next chapter in a long tradition of reinvention.

Since 1996, the Senators have played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, a suburban arena whose distance from downtown has been a long-standing challenge for fans and the franchise alike. As part of the team’s modernization efforts, the organization is actively pursuing a new downtown arena, with the most prominent proposal centered on LeBreton Flats, a centrally located redevelopment area near Ottawa’s core. While negotiations and planning continue, the vision is clear: a modern, accessible arena that reconnects the Senators with the heart of the city and anchors a new era of growth. Whether at LeBreton Flats or another downtown site, the pursuit of a new home reflects the franchise’s broader goal of aligning its future with the energy and identity of Ottawa itself.