2015–16 Ottawa Senators season

The 2015–16 Ottawa Senators season was the 24th season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators, along with all other Canadian teams, failed to make the playoffs. A major trade was made during the season to bring Dion Phaneuf to the Senators and improve the team defence, but the team was not able to make a run to secure a playoff spot. Two significant faults in the team were noted by the media: the club allowed 247 goals, third-highest in the league. Secondly, the team's penalty-killing unit ranked 29th in the league. One day after the regular season, general manager (GM) Bryan Murray stepped down and assistant GM Pierre Dorion became GM. Head coach Dave Cameron and the coaching staff were fired two days later.
==Off-season==
Leading up to the off-season, the media frequently speculated about what the Ottawa Senators would and could do with their surplus of goaltenders. They had recently signed Andrew Hammond, who had had an outstanding 2014–15 season, to a three-year contract and college graduate Matt O'Connor to an entry-level contract. They already had starter Craig Anderson, who was signed until the end of the 2017–18 season, and backup Robin Lehner, considered to be an outstanding future starter, who was signed until the end of the 2016–17 season, and prospect Chris Driedger in the minors.
The logjam at the goaltending position was resolved on June 26, when General Manager Bryan Murray completed a trade that saw Robin Lehner and forward David Legwand go to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 21st overall pick (acquired by Buffalo from the New York Islanders in the Matt Moulson-Thomas Vanek trade) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The Senators would use the pick to select right winger Colin White, who played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program's under-18 team. White is committed to attend Boston College beginning in the fall of 2015. The inclusion of Legwand in the trade was done to free up salary cap space to re-sign several players.
On June 27, Murray completed another trade, sending defenceman Eric Gryba to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for prospect forward Travis Ewanyk and a fourth-round 2015 draft pick, 107th overall, which the Senators used to select defenceman Christian Wolanin of the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Wolanin will play for the University of North Dakota in the 2015–16 season.
On July 7, the Senators re-signed Luke Richardson to a one-year contract extension to remain head coach of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, for the 2015–16 season. Richardson has been head coach of Binghamton since the 2010–11 season. In his first season at the helm, he led Binghamton to a 44–24–1–7 record, placing them fourth in the Eastern Conference. The team would end up winning the 2011 Calder Cup.
On July 26, an arbitrator awarded RFA right-winger Alex Chiasson a one-year contract worth $1.2 million. TSN Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli reported that Chiasson asked for a $2.475 million in his hearing that occurred on July 23 while the Senators countered with a $1 million offer.
On August 3, an arbitrator awarded RFA left-winger Mike Hoffman a one-year contract worth $2 million. Hoffman submitted a request for a one-year contract worth $3.4 million while the Senators offered a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
On September 5, the Canadian Press reported Senators defenceman Chris Phillips had suffered a major setback in his return to action after having back surgery back in April 2015. Phillips confirmed the report by informing Ottawa Sun sports columnist Bruce Garrioch that he cracked a disc in his back and there is currently no timetable for his return.
On September 17, the Senators announced that Daniel Alfredsson had returned to the organization. He will be the team's senior advisor of hockey operations. He reports to Bryan Murray.
== Pre-season ==
The Ottawa Senators played an eight-game preseason schedule beginning on Monday, September 21, 2015, and finishing on Saturday, October 3, 2015. The schedule featured split squad games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and home-and-home series against the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. It also featured a game against the Carolina Hurricanes taking place in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
== Regular season ==
The Senators began their season on the road in Buffalo, against the Sabres at the First Niagara Center. The home opener took place at the Canadian Tire Centre on October 11, 2015, against the Montreal Canadiens. The team will conclude the home part of their schedule on April 7, 2016, against the Florida Panthers. Their final game of the regular season will take place on April 9, 2016, at TD Garden in Boston.
On Sunday, October 11, 2015, rookie goaltender Matt O'Connor made his NHL debut against the Montreal Canadiens in a 3–1 loss. The goaltender for the Canadiens that night was rookie goaltender Mike Condon. This marked the first time that two NHL rookie goaltenders made their NHL debuts in the same game since October 14, 1967 when Wayne Rutledge of the Los Angeles Kings faced Doug Favell of the Philadelphia Flyers.
In February 2016, the Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs made a sensational trade of nine players and a draft pick. The Senators acquired Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf, plus Matt Frattin and three prospects, in exchange for Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, prospect Tobias Lindberg and a second-round 2017 draft pick. The two rival teams interests coincided for a rare trade between the two. The Maple Leafs wished to trade Phaneuf to rid the team of his contract. Similarly, the Senators wanted to move Cowen and Greening and Michalek. After the trade, Cowen revealed he had requested a trade; he had become a regular healthy scratch for the team. Greening had lost his NHL job, but had a one-way contract, and Michalek had a relatively high $4 million per season contract. Frattin was not transferred from the AHL Toronto Marlies to Binghamton, he remained with the Marlies on a loan.
== Playoffs ==
The Senators failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, after being eliminated on March 30, 2016.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Pre-season===
2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)	2015 Pre-Season: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1 ; Road: 2–2–1)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 21 	Ottawa (SS) 	1–4 	Toronto (SS) 	 	Hammond 	16,734 	0–1–0 	
2 	September 21 	Toronto (SS) 	4–3 	Ottawa (SS) 	OT 	O'Connor 	15,542 	0–1–1 	
3 	September 23 	Ottawa 	5–2 	Buffalo 	 	O'Connor 	17,298 	1–1–1 	
4 	September 26 	Buffalo 	6–4 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	16,738 	1–2–1 	
5 	September 27 	Ottawa 	1–2 	Carolina(St. John's, NL) 	 	Hammond 	–– 	1–3–1 	
6 	September 29 	Ottawa 	3–4 	Winnipeg 	OT 	Hammond 	15,294 	1–3–2 	
7 	October 1 	Ottawa 	5–2 	Montreal 	 	Anderson 	21,287 	2–3–2 	
8 	October 3 	Montreal 	4–5 	Ottawa 	 	O'Connor 	17,912 	3–3–2 	
===Regular season===
2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season 	2015–16 Regular Season
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October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)	October: 5–4–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 4–1–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 8 	Ottawa 	3–1 	Buffalo 	 	Anderson 	19,070 	1–0–0 	2 	
2 	October 10 	Ottawa 	5–4 	Toronto 	SO 	Anderson 	19,187 	2–0–0 	4 	
3 	October 11 	Montreal 	3–1 	Ottawa 	 	O'Connor 	19,177 	2–1–0 	4 	
4 	October 14 	Ottawa 	7–3 	Columbus 	 	Anderson 	13,803 	3–1–0 	6 	
5 	October 15 	Ottawa 	0–2 	Pittsburgh 	 	Anderson 	18,486 	3–2–0 	6 	
6 	October 17 	Nashville 	4–3 	Ottawa 	SO 	Anderson 	16,895 	3–2–1 	7 	
7 	October 22 	New Jersey 	5–4 	Ottawa 	SO 	Hammond 	16,578 	3–2–2 	8 	
8 	October 24 	Arizona 	4–1 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	17,270 	3–3–2 	8 	
9 	October 28 	Calgary 	4–5 	Ottawa 	SO 	Anderson 	16,923 	4–3–2 	10 	
10 	October 30 	Ottawa 	3–1 	Detroit 	 	Hammond 	20,027 	5–3–2 	12 	
11 	October 31 	Detroit 	5–3 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	16,964 	5–4–2 	12 	
==Players==
===Statistics===
Final stats 
;Scoring
 Regular Season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	82	16	66	82	-2 	50
 	75	23	38	61	-4 	38
 	78	29	30	59	1 	18
 	81	22	34	56	-9 	28
 	81	21	30	51	-2 	18
 	82	19	24	43	17 	16
 	81	25	11	36	16 	80
 	57	13	17	30	-15	32
 	75	10	16	26	9 	18
 	76	6 	14	20	-1 	18
 	77	8 	6 	14	2 	45
 	64	6 	7 	13	4 	34
 	80	5 	8 	13	-3 	165
 	69	5 	7 	12	12 	34
‡ 	42	3 	9 	12	2 	6
‡ 	32	6 	4 	10	1 	12
 	30	3 	6 	9 	4 	11
† 	20	1 	7 	8 	-3 	23
 	24	2 	3 	5 	-3 	6
 	52	0 	5 	5 	2 	24
 	20	2 	2 	4 	-4 	37
 	14	1 	3 	4 	-4 	9
‡ 	37	0 	4 	4 	7 	16
 	26	2 	1 	3 	-3 	9
 	3 	1 	1 	2 	2 	4
 	16	0 	2 	2 	-6 	2
 	63	1 	1 	2 	-4 	107
† 	1 	0 	1 	1 	1 	0
 	5 	0 	1 	1 	1 	2
† 	13	0 	1 	1 	-3 	2
 	15	0 	1 	1 	6 	4
 	4 	0 	0 	0 	-1 	0
‡ 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltenders
 Regular Season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	60	60	3477:06	31	23	5	161	2.78	1915	.916 	4	0	2	0
 	24	21	1382:24	7 	11	4	61 	2.65	712 	.914 	1	0	0	2
 	1 	1 	58:02 	0 	1 	0	3 	3.10	34 	.912 	0	0	0	0
 	1 	0 	31:49 	0 	0 	0	0 	0.00	11 	1.000	0	0	0	0
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Senators. Stats reflect time with the Senators only.
‡No longer with team.
Bold/italics denotes team leader in that category.
===Final roster===
Updated April 9, 2016
|}
===Awards===
 Regular Season
Player	Award 	Awarded
 	NHL All-Star game selection	January 6, 2016
 	NHL Second Star of the Week	February 8, 2016
 	NHL Third Star of the Week 	February 22, 2016
===Milestones===
Player 	Milestone 	Date
Kyle Turris 	400th NHL game 	October 10, 2015
Matt O'Connor 	1st NHL game1st NHL start 	October 11, 2015
Milan Michalek 	700th NHL game 	October 11, 2015
Erik Karlsson 	400th NHL game 	October 11, 2015
Chris Wideman 	1st NHL game 	October 17, 2015
Chris Neil 	900th NHL game 	October 22, 2015
Max McCormick 	1st NHL game 	October 22, 2015
Kyle Turris 	100th NHL goal 	October 31, 2015
Bobby Ryan 	400th NHL point 	October 31, 2015
Craig Anderson 	100th win as a member of the Ottawa Senators 	November 3, 2015
Jean-Gabriel Pageau	100th NHL game 	November 5, 2015
Chris Wideman 	1st NHL goal1st NHL point 	November 7, 2015
Shane Prince 	1st NHL goal 	November 25, 2015
Marc Methot 	100th NHL point 	November 28, 2015
David Dziurzynski 	1st NHL assist 	December 6, 2015
Mark Stone 	100th NHL point 	December 14, 2015
Ryan Dzingel 	1st NHL game 	December 22, 2015
Max McCormick 	1st NHL assist1st NHL point 	December 29, 2015
Fredrik Claesson 	1st NHL game 	December 30, 2015
Curtis Lazar 	100th NHL game 	December 30, 2015
Alex Chiasson 	200th NHL game 	December 30, 2015
Bobby Ryan 	200th NHL goal 	January 4, 2016
Chris Wideman 	1st NHL assist 	January 4, 2016
Max McCormick 	1st NHL goal 	January 7, 2016
Craig Anderson 	200th NHL win 	January 16, 2016
Patrick Wiercioch 	200th NHL game 	January 24, 2016
Ryan Dzingel 	1st NHL assist1st NHL point 	February 6, 2016
Ryan Dzingel 	1st NHL goal 	February 16, 2016
Nick Paul 	1st NHL game 	February 16, 2016
Nick Paul 	1st NHL assist1st NHL point 	February 18, 2016
Nick Paul 	1st NHL goal 	February 23, 2016
Zack Smith 	100th NHL point 	February 27, 2016
Mike Hoffman 	100th NHL point 	February 27, 2016
Marc Methot 	500th NHL game 	March 6, 2016
Bobby Ryan 	600th NHL game 	March 23, 2016
Cody Ceci 	200th NHL game 	March 30, 2016
Ben Harpur 	1st NHL game 	March 31, 2016
Buddy Robinson 	1st NHL game 	April 5, 2016
Erik Karlsson 	100th NHL goal 	April 5, 2016
Ben Harpur 	1st NHL assist1st NHL point 	April 5, 2016
Fredrik Claesson 	1st NHL assist1st NHL point 	April 5, 2016
Buddy Robinson 	1st NHL goal1st NHL point 	April 7, 2016
Zack Smith 	400th NHL game 	April 9, 2016
Buddy Robinson 	1st NHL assist 	April 9, 2016
Team 	Milestone 	Date
Ottawa Senators 	5000th goal in franchise history(Scored by Jean-Gabriel Pageau)	October 11, 2015
Ottawa Senators 	800th win 	December 14, 2015
Ottawa Senators 	1800th game 	February 20, 2016
===Records===
Team 	Record 	Date
Ottawa Senators	Franchise record for most shots allowed in one period (27)	December 12, 2015
Player 	Record 	Date
Mika Zibanejad 	Franchise record for scoring the quickest hat-trick (2:38)	February 27, 2016
===Transactions===
 Trades
Date	Details 	Details 	Reference
 	To Buffalo SabresRobin LehnerDavid Legwand 	To Ottawa Senators NYI's 1st-round pick (21st overall) in 2015 	
 	To Edmonton OilersEric Gryba 	To Ottawa SenatorsTravis EwanykPIT's 4th-round pick (107th overall) in 2015 	
 	To New Jersey DevilsDAL's 2nd-round pick (42nd overall) in 20154th-round pick in 2016 	To Ottawa Senators2nd-round pick (36th overall) in 2015 	
 	To Nashville PredatorsPatrick Mullen 	To Ottawa SenatorsConor Allen 	
 	To Toronto Maple LeafsJared CowenMilan MichalekColin GreeningTobias Lindberg2nd-round pick in 2017	To Ottawa SenatorsDion PhaneufMatt FrattinCasey BaileyRyan RupertCody Donaghey	
 	To Buffalo SabresEric O'DellCole SchneiderAlex GuptillMichael Sdao 	To Ottawa SenatorsJason AkesonPhil VaroneJérôme Gauthier-Leduc 	
 	To Minnesota WildConor Allen 	To Ottawa SenatorsMichael Keranen 	
 	To New York IslandersShane Prince7th-round pick in 2016 	To Ottawa Senators3rd-round pick in 2016 	
 Free agents acquired
Date	Player 	Former team 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars)	Ref
 	Eric O'Dell 	Winnipeg Jets 	One-year, two-way, $700,000 	
 	Zack Stortini 	Philadelphia Flyers	Two-year, two-way, $1.2 million	
 	Michael Kostka	New York Rangers 	One-year, two-way, $800,000 	
 	Mark Fraser 	New Jersey Devils 	One-year, two-way, $800,000 	
 	Scott Gomez 	Rochester Americans	One-year, $575,000 	
 	Tom Pyatt 	Geneve-Servette HC 	One-year, two-way $800,000 	
 Free agents lost
Date	Player 	New team 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars)	Ref
 	Erik Condra	Tampa Bay Lightning	3 years, $3.75 million 	
 	Derek Grant	Calgary Flames 	1 year, two-way, $700,000 	
 	Alex Grant 	Arizona Coyotes 	1-year, two-way, $600,000 	
 Player signings
Date	Player 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) 	Ref
 	Chris Wideman 	One-year, two-way, $600,000 	
 	Patrick Mullen 	One-year, two-way, $600,000 	
 	Cole Schneider 	One-year, two-way, $700,000 	
 	Shane Prince 	One-year, two-way, $700,000 	
 	Alex Chiasson 	One-year, $1.2 million 	
 	Mike Hoffman 	One-year, $2 million 	
 	Thomas Chabot 	Three-year, entry-level contract 	
 	Chris Wideman 	Two-year, $1.6 million contract extension	
 	Chris Neil 	One-year, $1.5 million contract extension	
 	Francis Perron 	Three-year, entry-level contract 	
 	Macoy Erkamps 	Three-year, entry-level contract 	
 	Andreas Englund	Three-year, entry-level contract 	
 	Buddy Robinson 	One-year 	
 Suspensions/fines
Player 	Reason 	Length 	Salary 	Date issued
Mark Stone	An illegal check to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Landon Ferraro during NHL game no. 158 in Ottawa on October 31	2 games	$37,634.40	November 2, 2015
Zack Smith	Diving/embellishment during NHL game no. 422 in Tampa Bay on December 10 	— 	$2,000.00 	December 17, 2015
==Draft picks==
Below are the Ottawa Senators' selections at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 26–27, 2015, at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. The day before the draft, the Senators traded goaltender Robin Lehner and David Legwand to the Buffalo Sabres to pick up a second first-round pick. On the second day of the draft, the Senators traded with the New Jersey Devils, moving up from the 42nd overall pick to the 36th overall pick to get Gabriel Gagne. The Senators then traded Eric Gryba to the Edmonton Oilers to pick up a player and the fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs (107th overall) to select Christian Wolanin.
Round	Overall	Player 	Position 	Nationality	Club team
1 	18 	Thomas Chabot 	Defence 	 	Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
1 	21 	Colin White 	Centre 	 	U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
2 	36 	Gabriel Gagne 	Right wing	 	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
2 	48 	Filip Chlapik 	Centre 	 	Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
4 	107 	Christian Wolanin	Defence 	 	Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
4 	109 	Filip Ahl 	Left wing 	 	HV71 (J20 SuperElit)
5 	139 	Christian Jaros 	Defence 	 	Lulea HF (J20 SuperElit)
7 	199 	Joel Daccord 	Goaltender	 	Cushing Academy (USHS–MA)
;Draft notes
* The New York Islanders' first-round pick went to the Ottawa Senators as the result of a trade on June 26, 2015 that sent Robin Lehner and David Legwand to Buffalo in exchange for this pick.
*:Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on October 27, 2013 that sent Thomas Vanek to New York in exchange for Matt Moulson, a second-round pick in 2015 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition – Buffalo will receive a first-round pick in 2014 or 2015 at New York's choice – was converted on May 22, 2014 when the Islanders elected to keep their 2014 first-round pick.
* The New Jersey Devils' second-round pick went to the Ottawa Senators as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015 that sent Dallas' second-round pick in 2015 (42nd overall) and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2015 or 2016 to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
* The Ottawa Senators' third-round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on March 5, 2014 that sent Ales Hemsky to Ottawa in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and this pick.
* The Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-round pick went to the Ottawa Senators as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015 that sent Eric Gryba to Edmonton in exchange for Travis Ewanyk and this pick.
*:Edmonton previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 27, 2015 that sent Martin Marincin to Toronto in exchange for Brad Ross and this pick.
*:Toronto previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 25, 2015 that sent Daniel Winnik to Pittsburgh in exchange for Zach Sill, a second-round pick in 2016 and this pick.
* The Ottawa Senators' sixth-round pick went to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on December 18, 2014 that sent Jay Harrison to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick. Winnipeg previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent a seventh-round pick in 2014 to Ottawa in exchange for this pick.
==References==
Category:Ottawa Senators seasons
Ottawa Senators season, 2015-16