2018–19 Ottawa Senators season

The 2018–19 Ottawa Senators season was the 27th season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The season saw the trading away of several notable veterans including Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel and the firing of coach Guy Boucher.
==Team business==
In May 2018, the club announced the appointment of Nicolas Ruszkowski as its new chief operating officer. Ruszkowski has a background in public relations. Ruszkowski will be in charge of business operations and will not have a role in hockey operations.
Assistant general manager Randy Lee was suspended by the club in June, after being charged for offences during the NHL Entry Draft Combine in Buffalo, New York. He resigned from the position in August.
The Belleville Senators head coaching vacancy was filled in June when the Senators announced the hiring of Troy Mann, a veteran of ten seasons in the North American minor leagues.
The Senators named a new assistant general manager on September 17. The new assistant general manager is Peter MacTavish, who was previously with law firm Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, and CAA Hockey.
The Senators announced that the Brampton Beast will be the team's official ECHL affiliate after the Montreal Canadiens decided not to renew their affiliation with the Beast.
The Senators' plans to build a new arena downtown in partnership with Trinity Developments came apart after it was revealed that the Senators were suing Trinity for $700 million in damages. Trinity was developing a site adjacent to the LeBreton Flats site and the Senators felt this was inappropriate competition. Trinity responded with a $1 billion dollar lawsuit, accusing the Senators of being unwilling to contribute any money to the project. The National Capital Commission (NCC), in charge of the public lands the arena would be situated on, announced the cancellation of the partnership's bid to develop the site, but gave the sides an extension when the two parties agreed to mediation. On February 27, 2019, it was announced that mediation between the parties had failed to come to an agreement and that the NCC would explore other options for the site's redevelopment.
==Off-season==
In July, the Senators avoided arbitration with winger Mark Stone coming to agreement on a $7.3 million one-year contract. Contract negotiations with defenseman Cody Ceci went to arbitration, where he was awarded a $4.3 million one-year deal.
In August, the Senators' 2018 first-round pick Brady Tkachuk decided to forego further seasons in university to turn professional with the Senators, signing a three-year entry-level contract. The Senators hired former player Chris Kelly as a development coach on September 4, 2018. He joins former player Shean Donovan as development coach.
A contract extension was offered to captain Erik Karlsson on July 1, with no terms disclosed publicly. Karlsson turned down the offer, prompting media speculation about his status. The media reported that Karlsson was free to negotiate terms with other teams, however, no trade was made at the time. Trade speculation heated up as the team neared training camp, and the team finally made a deal with the San Jose Sharks on September 13, one day before training camp. The team received two NHL players (Dylan DeMelo, Chris Tierney), two young prospects (Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers), and first-round and second-round draft picks in exchange for Karlsson. Karlsson did not agree to a contract extension with the Sharks, and a second-round draft pick of the Sharks will go to the Senators should he re-sign with San Jose. An additional pick will go to the Senators should the Sharks trade Karlsson to the Eastern Conference.
==Pre-season==
The Senators played in the Kraft Hockeyville game again in pre-season, playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in Lucan, Ontario on September 18. The team played a six-game pre-season schedule, including two against Toronto, two against Montreal and two against Chicago.
==Regular season==
The Senators' first game of the season, also the home opener, was on October 4, 2018, versus the Chicago Blackhawks. In the team's 26Did not play in 2004-05 seasons of play, this was the first time the Blackhawks were the opening night opponent.
During November, a video leaked of seven Senators players, including Matt Duchene, Chris Wideman, Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo and Thomas Chabot, mocking the team during an Uber ride from a game. The five minute video featured the players laughing at the team's low ranked penalty kill, poor special teams and insulting assistant coach Martin Raymond, who was not present in the vehicle. The video quickly went viral, and started a dialogue about privacy and consent about recording conversations. The players involved issued apologies for their comments.
At the trade deadline, the Senators traded away their top three scorers: Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel; all were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in July and had not agreed to contract extensions. Duchene and Dzingel were traded away to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Stone was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. At the trade deadline, the Senators were in last place in the NHL, a position they would hold for the rest of the season.
On March 1, 2019, head coach Guy Boucher was fired and associate coach Marc Crawford was named as interim head coach.
==Playoffs==
The Senators failed to qualify for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs after being eliminated on March 9, 2019, following a 3–2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Pre-season===
The pre-season schedule was published on June 18, 2018.
2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)	2018 pre-season game log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 18 	Ottawa 	1–4 	Toronto 	 	Condon 	— 	0–1–0 	Recap
2 	September 19 	Toronto 	4–1 	Ottawa 	 	McKenna 	11,375 	0–2–0 	Recap
3 	September 21 	Chicago 	5–2 	Ottawa 	 	Gustavsson 	7,891 	0–3–0 	Recap
4 	September 22 	Ottawa 	2–3 	Montreal 	 	Anderson 	20,405 	0–4–0 	Recap
5 	September 27 	Ottawa 	2–1 	Chicago 	 	Condon 	20,239 	1–4–0 	Recap
6 	September 29 	Montreal 	0–3 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	14,398 	2–4–0 	Recap
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, Ontario.
===Regular season===
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.
2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)	2018–19 game log (Record: 29–47–6; Home: 18–19–4 ; Road: 11–28–2)
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October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1) 	October: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–3–1)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 4 	Chicago 	4–3 	Ottawa 	OT 	Anderson 	15,858 	0–0–1 	1 	Recap
2 	October 6 	Ottawa 	5–3 	Toronto 	 	Anderson 	19,321 	1–0–1 	3 	Recap
3 	October 8 	Ottawa 	3–6 	Boston 	 	Condon 	17,565 	1–1–1 	3 	Recap
4 	October 10 	Philadelphia 	7–4 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	13,215 	1–2–1 	3 	Recap
5 	October 13 	Los Angeles 	1–5 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	15,355 	2–2–1 	5 	Recap
6 	October 15 	Dallas 	1–4 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	12,358 	3–2–1 	7 	Recap
7 	October 20 	Montreal 	3–4 	Ottawa 	OT 	Anderson 	18,442 	4–2–1 	9 	Recap
8 	October 23 	Boston 	4–1 	Ottawa 	 	Anderson 	15,265 	4–3–1 	9 	Recap
9 	October 26 	Ottawa 	3–6 	Colorado 	 	Anderson 	16,851 	4–4–1 	9 	Recap
10 	October 28 	Ottawa 	3–4 	Vegas 	OT 	Anderson 	18,089 	4–4–2 	10 	Recap
11 	October 30 	Ottawa 	1–5 	Arizona 	 	Condon 	13,988 	4–5–2 	10 	Recap
==Players==
===Statistics===
Final Stats
====Skaters====
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
‡ 	59	28	34	62	13 	22
‡ 	50	27	31	58	-2 	6
 	70	14	41	55	-12	32
 	81	9 	39	48	-22	26
 	71	22	23	45	-10	73
‡ 	57	22	22	44	-13	29
 	78	15	27	42	-29	33
 	71	14	27	41	-24	24
 	71	7 	28	35	-24	6
 	70	9 	19	28	-6 	81
 	74	7 	19	26	-22	18
 	77	4 	18	22	-1 	32
 	80	11	8 	19	-14	6
 	56	7 	8 	15	-25	20
† 	21	8 	6 	14	1 	2
† 	20	6 	8 	14	3 	4
 	36	5 	9 	14	-7 	10
 	30	4 	8 	12	3 	6
 	39	4 	8 	12	-12	14
 	61	1 	9 	10	-14	27
 	20	3 	6 	9 	-2 	6
† 	20	5 	3 	8 	1 	4
‡ 	19	2 	3 	5 	-9 	12
 	53	1 	4 	5 	-12	89
 	51	1 	4 	5 	-13	56
 	12	2 	2 	4 	-5 	0
 	20	1 	1 	2 	-10	4
‡ 	37	0 	2 	2 	-16	2
 	9 	1 	0 	1 	-2 	6
‡ 	14	1 	0 	1 	-6 	4
 	5 	1 	0 	1 	-2 	4
 	3 	0 	1 	1 	1 	0
 	10	0 	0 	0 	-4 	11
 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
‡ 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	2
 	4 	0 	0 	0 	-1 	2
† 	3 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	0
 	3 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	10
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	0
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	-3 	0
====Goaltenders====
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	50	47	2785:11	17	27	4	163	3.51	1676	.903	2	0	1	0
† 	24	22	1321:52	11	11	0	64 	2.90	745 	.914	2	0	1	0
‡ 	10	6 	454:23 	1 	4 	1	30 	3.96	292 	.897	0	0	0	0
 	4 	4 	205:30 	0 	2 	1	14 	4.09	121 	.884	0	0	0	0
 	2 	2 	75:15 	0 	2 	0	8 	6.38	40 	.800	0	0	0	0
 	1 	1 	60:00 	0 	1 	0	5 	5.00	40 	.875	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 denotes team leader in that category.
===Awards and honours===
====Awards====
* Thomas Chabot - selected to 2019 National Hockey League All-Star Game roster
====Milestones====
Player 	Milestone 	Date
Maxime Lajoie 	1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point	October 4, 2018
Brady Tkachuk 	1st career NHL game 	October 8, 2018
Brady Tkachuk 	1st career NHL goal1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point 	October 10, 2018
Christian Jaros	1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point 	October 13, 2018
Alex Formenton 	1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point 	October 30, 2018
Ryan Dzingel 	200th career NHL game 	November 1, 2018
Magnus Paajarvi	400th career NHL game 	November 3, 2018
Mark Stone 	100th career NHL goal 	November 6, 2018
Chris Tierney 	300th career NHL game 	November 8, 2018
Drake Batherson	1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point 	November 15, 2018
Matt Duchene 	500th career NHL point 	November 17, 2018
Drake Batherson	1st career NHL assist 	November 17, 2018
Mikkel Boedker 	300th career NHL point 	November 21, 2018
Christian Jaros	1st career NHL goal 	November 21, 2018
Tom Pyatt 	100th career NHL point 	November 21, 2018
Ryan Dzingel 	100th career NHL point 	November 29, 2018
Ben Harpur 	1st career NHL goal 	December 1, 2018
Cody Ceci 	100th career NHL point 	December 1, 2018
Thomas Chabot 	100th career NHL game 	December 21, 2018
Cody Ceci 	400th career NHL game 	December 28, 2018
Marcus Hogberg 	1st career NHL game 	December 29, 2018
Matt Duchene 	300th career NHL assist 	January 2, 2019
Rudolfs Balcers	1st career NHL game 	January 5, 2019
Rudolfs Balcers	1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point 	January 6, 2019
Rudolfs Balcers	1st career NHL assist 	January 10, 2019
Mikkel Boedker 	200th career NHL assist 	January 10, 2019
Mark Borowiecki	300th career NHL game 	January 18, 2019
Mark Stone 	300th career NHL point 	February 1, 2019
Matt Duchene 	700th career NHL game 	February 9, 2019
Craig Anderson 	600th career NHL game 	February 18, 2019
Zack Smith 	600th career NHL game 	March 5, 2019
Erik Brannstrom	1st career NHL game 	March 14, 2019
Max Veronneau 	1st career NHL game 	March 14, 2019
Bobby Ryan 	800th NHL game 	March 16, 2019
Dylan DeMelo 	200th NHL game 	March 16, 2019
Max Veronneau 	1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point 	March 16, 2019
Max Veronneau 	1st career NHL goal 	March 20, 2019
Chris Tierney 	100th career NHL assist 	March 20, 2019
Vitalii Abramov	1st career NHL game 	March 21, 2019
Joel Daccord 	1st career NHL game 	April 4, 2019
====Records====
==Transactions==
The Senators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To New York RangersPIT's 1st-round pick in 2018 	To Ottawa SenatorsBOS's 1st-round pick in 2018NJD's 2nd-round pick in 2018 	
 	To San Jose SharksErik KarlssonFrancis Perron 	To Ottawa SenatorsRudolfs BalcersDylan DeMeloJosh NorrisChris TierneySJS's 1st-round pick in 2019 or 2020SJS's 2nd-round pick 2019SJS' 2020 conditional pickSJS's conditional pick	
 	To Edmonton OilersChris Wideman 	To Ottawa SenatorsSTL's conditional 6th-round pick in 2020 	
 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsMacoy ErkampsBen Sexton 	To Ottawa SenatorsStefan ElliottTobias Lindberg 	
 	To Vancouver CanucksMike McKennaTom Pyatt6th-round pick in 2019 	To Ottawa SenatorsDarren ArchibaldAnders Nilsson 	
 	To Boston BruinsPaul Carey 	To Ottawa SenatorsCody Goloubef 	
 	To Toronto Maple LeafsGabriel Gagne 	To Ottawa SenatorsMorgan Klimchuk 	
 	To Colorado AvalancheMax McCormick 	To Ottawa SenatorsJ. C. Beaudin 	
 	To Columbus Blue JacketsJulius BergmanMatt Duchene 	To Ottawa SenatorsVitalii AbramovJonathan DavidssonConditional 1st-round pick in 2019Conditional 1st-round pick in 2020 	
 	To Columbus Blue JacketsRyan DzingelCGY's 7th-round pick in 2019	To Ottawa SenatorsAnthony Duclair2nd-round pick in 20202nd-round pick in 2021 	
 	To Anaheim DucksPatrick Sieloff 	To Ottawa SenatorsBrian Gibbons 	
 	To Vegas Golden KnightsTobias LindbergMark Stone 	To Ottawa SenatorsErik BrannstromOscar LindbergDAL's 2nd-round pick in 2020 	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Fredrik Claesson	to New York Rangers 	1-year 	
 	Paul Carey 	from New York Rangers 	1-year 	
 	Mike McKenna 	from Dallas Stars 	1-year 	
 	Chris Driedger 	to Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Mike Blunden 	to Bozen–Bolzano Foxes (EBEL) 	1-year 	
 	Tyler Randell 	to Rochester Americans (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Adam Tambellini 	from New York Rangers 	1-year 	
 	Chase Balisy 	from Florida Panthers 	1-year 	
 	Justin Falk 	from Colorado Eagles (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Max Veronneau 	from Princeton Tigers (ECAC Hockey)	2-year 	
 	Olle Alsing 	from Djurgårdens IF (SHL) 	2-year 	
 	Nick Ebert 	from Örebro (SHL) 	1-year 	
===Waivers===
Date	Player	Team	Ref
 	 	 	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Alex Burrows	Buyout	
===Retirement===
Date	Player	Ref
 	 	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Chris Wideman 	1-year 	
 	Nick Paul 	1-year 	
 	Cody Ceci 	1-year 	
 	Mark Stone 	1-year 	
 	Brady Tkachuk 	3-year 	
 	Joel Daccord 	2-year 	
 	Jonathan Gruden	3-year 	
 	Josh Norris 	3-year 	
 	Anders Nilsson 	2-year 	
 	Morgan Klimchuk	1-year 	
 	Anthony Duclair	1-year 	
 	Andreas Englund	1-year 	
 	Marcus Hogberg 	2-year 	
===Suspensions/fines===
 Suspensions/fines
Player 	Reason 	Length 	Salary 	Date issued
Mark Borowiecki 	Elbowing Boston Bruins defenceman Urho Vaakanainen during NHL game no. 125 in Ottawa on October 23 	1 game 	$6,451.61 	October 24, 2018
Mark Borowiecki 	Illegal check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin during NHL game no. 163 in Las Vegas on October 28	3 games	$43,902.45	October 29, 2018
Jean-Gabriel Pageau	Illegal boarding of Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ashton Sautner during NHL game no. 1134 in Vancouver on March 20 	1 game 	$16,666.67	March 21, 2019
==Draft picks==
Below are the Ottawa Senators' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Round	Overall	Player 	Position	Nationality 	Club team
1 	4 	Brady Tkachuk 	LW 	United States	Boston University (Hockey East)
1 	261 	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D 	Canada 	Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)
2 	482 	Jonny Tychonick 	D 	Canada 	Penticton Vees (BCHL)
4 	95 	Jonathan Gruden 	LW 	United States	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
5 	126 	Angus Crookshank 	LW 	Canada 	Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
6 	157 	Kevin Mandolese 	G 	Canada 	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7 	188 	Jakov Novak 	LW 	Canada 	Janesville Jets (NAHL)
7 	1943 	Luke Loheit 	RW 	United States	Minnetonka High School (USHS)
Notes:
# The Senators acquired the 26th-overall pick from the New York Rangers in exchange for the 22nd-overall pick (the Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick) and the 48th overall pick. The 22nd-overall pick was previously acquired by the Senators as the result of a trade on February 23, 2018, that sent Vincent Dunn and a third-round pick in 2018 to Pittsburgh in exchange for Ian Cole, Filip Gustavsson and this pick.
# The New Jersey Devils' second-round pick went to the Senators as the result of a trade on June 22, 2018, that sent Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2018 (22nd overall) to the New York Rangers in exchange for Boston's first-round pick in 2018 (26th overall) and this pick.
# The New York Rangers' seventh-round pick went to the Senators as the result of a trade July 18, 2016, that sent Mika Zibanejad and a second-round pick in 2018 to New York in exchange for Derick Brassard and this pick.
==References==
Category:Ottawa Senators seasons
Ottawa Senators