Why Thomas Chabot deserves to be the Ottawa Senators next captain

Thomas Chabot of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his second period goal against the Anaheim Ducks with Shane Pinto #12 and Tim Stützle. Photo by CHRIS TANOUYE/FREESTYLE PHOTO /GETTY IMAGES

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Hasn’t Thomas Chabot earned the right to be the next captain of the Ottawa Senators?

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For nearly a decade, the 29-year-old defenceman has been the constant through Ottawa’s darkest days and its climb back to respectability. He has endured the rebuild, weathered the criticism, carried heavy minutes night after night and remained committed to an organization that is poised to take the next step.

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We’re told that Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, along with head coach Travis Green are closing in on a decision on who will replace departed captain Brady Tkachuk and that the choice could be made in the near future.

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The talk in league circles is that there have been several discussions internally in the offices at the Canadian Tire Centre the past couple of weeks on Tkachuk’s successor and the Senators would like to name the new captain before camp gets underway on Sept. 16.

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That makes sense because the captain is the face of the franchise and will play a role in marketing heading into a new season.

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Who are the best candidates?

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Chabot, top defenceman Jake Sanderson and top centre Tim Stutzle are considered the top three candidates for the post, which was left vacant after Tkachuk demanded a trade and was dealt to the Florida Panthers on June 21 in exchange for four draft picks.

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While many believe Sanderson is the frontrunner because he’s one of the league’s best defencemen and has taken on a bigger role the past two seasons, Chabot has paid his dues and was viewed by many as a strong voice during Tkachuk’s five years in the role.

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Passed over by the organization in 2021 after the Senators went three seasons without anybody wearing the ‘C’ after Erik Karlsson was shipped to the San Jose Sharks in 2018, Chabot emerged as a leader and started wearing the alternate ‘A’ in 2020-21.

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When the Senators signed Tkachuk to a seven-year deal on Oct. 14, 2021, it came with the promise that he would be the next captain. Late owner Eugene Melnyk and former general manager Pierre Dorion made Tkachuk the 10th captain in franchise history on Nov. 5, 2021.

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Though Tkachuk led this team into battle many nights during his tenure in that role, several people will tell you that Chabot played a huge role in steadying the ship and ensuring the focus on improvement was in the right place.

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Last year, when the Senators opted to move their training camp to Quebec City last September, it was Chabot — who makes his off-season home in Saint-Marie — who organized a golf outing for his teammates and a spectacular dinner at his home during an off day.

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There is no player more committed to this franchise than Chabot. He has 78 goals and 335 points in 569 career games with the Senators. He missed the playoffs in his first seven seasons with Ottawa and never once did he waver or ask for a trade.