The Ottawa Senators named defenseman Thomas Chabot the 11th captain in franchise history on Tuesday, appointing the longest-tenured player on the roster to the role ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. Chabot, who turns 30 in January, takes over the captaincy after Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers during the off-season following a request to move.
Chabot’s Decade-Long Tenure in Ottawa
Chabot has played parts of 10 seasons with Ottawa after the franchise selected him in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2015 NHL draft. He leads the team with 569 games played, ranking 11th all-time in franchise history, while his 335 points place him 13th overall and third among defensemen. General manager and president of hockey operations Steve Staios noted that Chabot is the team’s first francophone captain. “Thomas exemplifies everything we want in an Ottawa Senator,” Staios said in a team release. “He’s committed to the city and to the organization. He puts the team first.” Chabot previously served as an alternate captain and told reporters at a Canadian Tire Centre news conference that the appointment is a huge honor. “We’ve always said it. Ottawa feels like home. It really does. We bought our first house here. We started our family here. Becoming captain here is a huge honor,” Chabot said, just days after his wife gave birth to a baby girl.
Leadership Structure and Opening Roster Decisions
Head coach Travis Green announced that Claude Giroux, Tim Stützle, and Jake Sanderson will serve as alternate captains alongside Chabot for the upcoming campaign. “You want a captain that can communicate with your players and coaching staff and help guide players along any way he can. I think he’ll be able to check all the boxes,” Green said. The leadership announcement coincided with the release of Ottawa’s opening night roster ahead of their Saturday season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The roster includes injured defenseman Artem Zub, forwards Warren Foegele and Kurtis MacDermid, and 21-year-old defenseman Hoyt Stanley, who made the team after playing three years of college hockey and six professional games with the Belleville Senators. Goaltender Samuel Ersson and forwards Andre Burakovsky and William Eklund are also poised to make their Senators debuts. The team hosts its home opener on Thursday, October 8, as it chases a third playoff appearance.
Captains and opening schedule for the Ottawa Senators
Who was the previous captain of the Ottawa Senators?
Brady Tkachuk served as captain for five seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers in the off-season.
When does the Ottawa Senators’ 2026-27 season begin?
The Senators open the regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by their home opener on Thursday, October 8.
Who are the alternate captains for the Senators this season?
Claude Giroux, Tim Stützle, and Jake Sanderson round out the leadership group as alternate captains.
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