The next step for the Ottawa Senators is clear: Win when it matters

A group of Ottawa Senators players chat while attending the Ottawa Senators Foundation Charity Open on Monday. Photo by TONY CALDWELL /POSTMEDIA

Article content

The Ottawa Senators keep talking about “making the next step” on the eve of training camp.

Article content

So, what does progress look like?

Article content

Article content

After making the playoffs two straight years and being eliminated in the first round, the Senators can’t possibly view their four-game sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes as a step in the right direction.

Article content

Not only do the Senators have to get back to the playoffs next spring, but the goal for this group should be to have home-ice advantage in the post-season by finishing near the top of the difficult Atlantic Division.

Article content

Article content

If that’s going to happen, then the Senators core must improve under the guidance of head coach Travis Green and his staff.

Article content

Article content

That means it’s paramount that Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto and Thomas Chabot continue on the trajectory they showed last season.

Article content

“We need to keep getting better every season, and keep going in the right direction,” Stutzle said on Tuesday. “We’ve always said that we want to trust the process, and I think we’ve done a good job.”

Article content

Who are the new faces in new places?

Article content

Nobody expected Steve Staios — the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager — to shake up the roster, with the exception of maybe adding a top-six forward or a right-shot defenceman, but the shocker took place in June.

Article content

That’s when the Senators dealt captain Brady Tkachuk, who demanded a change of scenery, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for four draft picks. Staios moved quickly to acquire skilled winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks.

Article content

Article content

Article content

At 23 years old, Eklund has the chance to turn his potential into production, which is why Staios gave up the No. 9 selection in the draft to acquire him.

Article content

Article content

“When we first got him, I was really excited about it,” Stutzle said. “He’s a great player, and he’s going to be really good for us.”

Article content

This move has to work out for the Senators, and it must pay dividends. So does the acquisition of winger Andre Burakovsky from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Article content

The 31-year-old Burakovsky will get a chance to play in the top six and it’s paramount that he finds his offensive touch.

Article content

What is the backup plan?

Article content

Article content

A change of scenery from the Philadelphia Flyers might be just what he needed. He wasn’t very good with the Flyers, but league executives tell the Ottawa Citizen that they feel Ersson will be a good fit behind top goaltender Linus Ullmark.

Article content

Ersson must make improvements. He finished with an. 870 save percentage with the Flyers last season, but he posted a 14-11-5 record with a .647 winning percentage.

Article content

“We think he’ll be good with Linus,” Staios said. “We’re always looking at connecting the dots and building this team the right way and a lot of it has to do with the personality.