History of the Ottawa Senators (since 1992) facts for kids

The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). This team is the second one to be called the Ottawa Senators. The first team, started in 1883, was very famous. They won 11 Stanley Cups and helped create the NHL.

In 1990, a man named Bruce Firestone worked hard to bring the NHL back to Ottawa. After two years, the NHL agreed to add a new team for $50 million. The new Senators team started playing in the 1992–93 season.

At first, the team struggled a lot. They finished last in the league for their first four seasons. But changes in the team's management helped them get better. They finally made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1997. Since then, they have been in the playoffs 16 times, most recently in 2017.

The team won the Presidents' Trophy in 2002–03. This award goes to the team with the best regular season record. They also reached the Eastern Conference finals three times. In 2007, they even made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The team has changed owners three times. Bruce Firestone sold the team to Rod Bryden in 1993. Then, in 2003, after the team faced money problems, it was sold to Eugene Melnyk. Eugene Melnyk passed away in 2022. His family then sold the team to Michael Andlauer in September 2023 for $950 million. Melnyk's daughters still own 10% of the team.

Bringing Hockey Back to Ottawa

In 1987, a real estate developer named Bruce Firestone had an idea. He wanted to bring an NHL team back to Ottawa. He learned that the league was planning to add new teams in the 1990s. Firestone decided to try and get a team for Ottawa through his company, Terrace Investments.

His friends, Cyril Leeder and Randy Sexton, were surprised by his idea. They thought it was "ridiculous." A big challenge was that Firestone's company didn't have enough money to buy a team or build an arena. But Firestone believed they could do both. Their plan was to build a small city called West Terrace around a new arena and hotel. They thought getting an NHL team would make the surrounding land much more valuable.

On June 22, 1989, Terrace Investments publicly announced their plan. They wanted to get an NHL team and bring back the "Senators" name. Firestone got permission from the family of the original Senators' owner to use the name.

To get people excited, they started the "Bring Back the Senators" campaign. On September 7, 1989, they held a press conference. Frank Finnigan, the last player from the Senators' 1927 Stanley Cup win, was there. He was given a new jersey and promised to drop the first puck if the team returned. They also showed drawings of a new arena, called the Palladium, which would seat 22,500 fans.

Many people doubted Ottawa could get a team. Alan Eagleson, who led the NHL Players' Association, said it would never happen. But despite the doubts, 11,000 fans sent in $25 pledges for season tickets by November 1990. This showed how much Ottawa wanted a team.

In December 1990, the NHL met to decide on new teams. Ottawa was up against a strong bid from Hamilton, Ontario. But Ottawa had good things going for it: it was Canada's capital, had many TV stations, a large population, and a rich history in hockey. The biggest reason Ottawa got the team was that Bruce Firestone was ready to pay the $50 million fee without any hesitation. This fee was much higher than what teams had paid before.

On December 6, 1990, the NHL announced that Ottawa would get one of the two new teams. The other team was the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams would start playing in the 1992–93 season.

Building the Palladium Arena

The new arena was planned for land used for farming. The Government of Ontario had to approve the change. This process took a long time. Bruce Firestone was even offered $20 million to move the team to Anaheim, California, where an arena already existed. But Firestone refused, saying he brought the Senators back to Ottawa to play in Ottawa.

Eventually, the arena plan was approved, but with conditions. The arena's size was reduced, and Firestone's company had to pay for a new highway exit. This made it harder to get money for the project. The financial stress led to Firestone stepping down in August 1993. Rod Bryden took over the team.

The new arena, the Palladium, was not ready for the 1992-93 season. So, the team played its first few seasons at the Ottawa Civic Centre. This arena was updated to hold about 10,000 fans.

Once construction started, the Palladium was built smoothly and on budget. The Senators played their first game there on January 17, 1996. A month later, Corel Corporation bought the naming rights, and the arena became the Corel Centre. In 2006, it was renamed Scotiabank Place. Seven years later, it became the Canadian Tire Centre, which is its name today.

Early Years: Learning to Play

The team chose Mel Bridgman as their first general manager in 1991. Rick Bowness became the first head coach. On June 18, 1992, the team participated in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft. The rules allowed established teams to protect their best players and young talent. The Senators mostly picked experienced players or those who had done well in minor leagues. In the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, the Senators picked Alexei Yashin as their first-ever draft choice. He joined the team in 1993.

First Season: 1992–93

The new Senators played their first game on October 8, 1992, at the Ottawa Civic Centre against the Montreal Canadiens. There was a big celebration before the game. They raised banners for the original Senators' Stanley Cup wins. The team won that first game 5–3, but it was one of their few wins that season.

The Senators finished with one of the worst records in the league that year. They won only ten games, with 70 losses and four ties. Bruce Firestone had aimed for the team to finish low in the standings. This was so they could get high draft picks in the future.

The "Daigle Cup"

In the 1992–93 season, it became clear that Alexandre Daigle would be the top pick in the next draft. Both the Senators and the San Jose Sharks were competing for last place. At that time, the worst team got the first overall pick. This "competition" was called the "Daigle Cup."

The Senators were fined $100,000 because Bruce Firestone said the team deliberately lost games to get the top pick. After this, the NHL changed its rules. They started a lottery for the top draft picks to prevent teams from trying to lose on purpose.

The Senators picked Daigle first overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. They signed him to a huge contract, the largest ever for a rookie at the time. However, Daigle did not play as well as hoped. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and is seen as one of the biggest "draft busts" in sports history.

1993–1995: More Challenges

After the 1992–93 season, general manager Mel Bridgman was fired. Randy Sexton took over. In August 1993, Bruce Firestone sold his remaining shares to Rod Bryden.

For the 1993–94 season, the team added Daigle and Yashin. Yashin had a great rookie season, leading the team in points. The Senators improved slightly, winning 14 games, but still finished last in the league.

During the 1994–95 season, which was shorter due to a lockout, the team continued to struggle. They finished last again, winning only nine games.

Turning Things Around: The Jacques Martin Era (1996–2004)

By late 1995, the Senators were having a tough time. They had finished last for three seasons in a row. Star player Alexei Yashin was holding out for a new contract. The team fired coach Rick Bowness in November 1995.

The team brought in Roy Mlakar to help. He would later become the team president. The turnaround truly began when Pierre Gauthier was hired as general manager in December 1995. He was the first GM with previous NHL experience. Gauthier quickly signed Yashin to a contract. He also traded a player named Bryan Berard for Wade Redden, who would become a key defenseman. Then, Gauthier hired Jacques Martin as the new head coach.

The new Palladium arena opened in January 1996. The Senators lost their first game there. But the 1995–96 season ended with new hope. A new star, Daniel Alfredsson, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. He was the first Senator to win this award. The Senators also picked defenseman Chris Phillips first overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He would play for the team for many years.

First Playoff Appearances

The 1996–97 season was a big one. The Senators made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time ever! They clinched their spot in the very last game of the season with a dramatic 1–0 win. This was the first time an Ottawa team had been in the playoffs in 67 years. They faced the Buffalo Sabres and lost in seven close games.

The next season, 1997–98, the Senators got even better. They had their first winning record in team history. In the playoffs, they surprised everyone by beating the top-seeded New Jersey Devils in six games. This was their first playoff series win. They then lost to the Washington Capitals.

After the season, Rick Dudley became general manager, followed by Marshall Johnston.

Becoming Playoff Contenders

In 1998–99, the Senators had a fantastic regular season. They earned 103 points, their first time getting over 100 points. But they had a tough playoff series, losing to Buffalo.

The 1999–2000 season was difficult because Alexei Yashin held out for a new contract and didn't play all season. Despite this, the team still made the playoffs. But they lost in the first round to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Yashin returned for the 2000–01 season. Even though fans often booed him, he played well. The Senators had another great season, finishing with 109 points. But for the third year in a row, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Toronto. After the season, Yashin was traded to the New York Islanders. In return, the Senators got Zdeno Chára, Bill Muckalt, and a high draft pick. With that pick, they chose Jason Spezza.

In 2001–02, the Senators made the playoffs again. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. Then they faced Toronto again in what became known as the "Battle of Ontario." Toronto won the series in seven games.

Money Problems and New Ownership

In January 2003, the Senators faced serious money problems and filed for bankruptcy. But they kept playing thanks to emergency funding from the NHL. Despite these issues, Ottawa had an amazing season in 2002–03. They won the Presidents' Trophy with a team record of 113 points. This was the best finish for an Ottawa team in 77 years.

In the 2003 playoffs, they beat the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers. They came very close to reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, but lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference finals.

On August 26, 2003, the team and arena were bought by Eugene Melnyk. He was the CEO of a company called Biovail. Melnyk had been interested in buying the team for several years.

Coaching Change

After the sale, the team had high hopes for the 2003–04 season. They had another good regular season, earning 102 points. This meant they would play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2004 playoffs for the fourth time. The rivalry between the two teams was very strong.

Despite Toronto missing some key players, they won the series in seven games. The Senators lost the final game 4–1. Two days later, coach Jacques Martin was fired. The team felt a new coach was needed for playoff success. On June 8, 2004, Bryan Murray became the team's new head coach. He would not coach until 2005 due to an NHL lockout.

The Bryan Murray Era (2004–2017)

High Hopes and the "CASH Line"

Before the 2004–05 season, the Senators acquired Dany Heatley in a big trade. Heatley, Alfredsson, and Spezza quickly formed one of the best offensive lines in the league. Fans called them the "CASH line" (from Captain Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley). Heatley became the first player in team history to score 100 points and 50 goals in a season.

The team started the 2005–06 season incredibly well, winning 19 of their first 22 games. They finished first in the Eastern Conference with 113 points. However, their star goalie, Dominik Hasek, got injured before the playoffs. Rookie goalie Ray Emery had to step in. The Senators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. But they lost to the Buffalo Sabres in the second round. After this season, several key players left the team.

Journey to the Stanley Cup Finals (2007)

The 2006–07 season started slowly for the Senators. But they played much better in the second half, finishing with 105 points. In the playoffs, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. Many expected the Penguins to win, but the Senators won the series in five games.

Next, they played the New Jersey Devils and won in five games again. Then, the Senators faced Buffalo in the Conference final. This time, Ottawa won the series in five games, earning the Prince of Wales Trophy as Eastern Conference champions. They advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals to play the Anaheim Ducks.

This was the first time an Ottawa team had been in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1927. The city was full of excitement! Businesses put up "Go Sens Go" signs, and a huge Senators flag was hung on City Hall. Captain Daniel Alfredsson, from Sweden, was the first European captain to lead a team to the Finals. However, the Anaheim Ducks won the series in five games.

Changes and Rebuilding (2007–2016)

After the Finals, the Senators made many changes. Bryan Murray became the general manager, and John Paddock was named head coach. The team started the 2007–08 season very strong, winning eight games in a row. But they had a long slump in January and February. Murray fired Paddock and took over as coach himself. The team improved but still lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 2008–09 season saw more changes. Goalie Ray Emery's contract was bought out. Long-time Senator Wade Redden left. The team struggled again and fired coach Craig Hartsburg in February 2009. Cory Clouston took over as coach. The team played much better under Clouston but missed the playoffs.

In 2009, star forward Dany Heatley asked for a trade. He was eventually traded to the San Jose Sharks for Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo.

The 2009–10 season saw the team return to the playoffs. They had an 11-game winning streak that helped them get there. They faced the Penguins again in the first round and lost in six games.

The 2010–11 season was tough. The team struggled a lot. Owner Eugene Melnyk said he was planning for the future. The team traded away several veteran players, including Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly, for draft picks. They also acquired goalie Craig Anderson, who played very well. Bryan Murray was re-signed as general manager, and Paul MacLean was hired as the new head coach.

The 2011–12 season was a surprise. Many thought the Senators would finish last. But they improved and made the playoffs as the eighth seed. They lost to the New York Rangers in seven games.

In the 2012–13 season, the team faced many injuries to key players like Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza. Despite this, they still made the playoffs. They beat the Montreal Canadiens in five games but then lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. On July 5, 2013, long-time captain Daniel Alfredsson left the team to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. This shocked many fans. But on the same day, the Senators acquired star forward Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks.

The 2013–14 season saw the league realign. The Senators moved to the new Atlantic Division. They failed to make the playoffs that year.

After the season, Jason Spezza was traded to the Dallas Stars. The team struggled again in the 2014–15 season. Coach Paul MacLean was fired and replaced by Dave Cameron. Daniel Alfredsson signed a one-day contract to retire as a Senator. The team had a great run at the end of the season, led by rookie goalie Andrew Hammond, who was nicknamed "the Hamburglar." They overcame a big point deficit to make the playoffs but lost to the Canadiens.

Recent Years: Decline and Rebuilding (2017–Present)

In 2016, Bryan Murray retired as general manager. Pierre Dorion was promoted to GM. He hired Guy Boucher as head coach. The 2016–17 season was a high point. The team made it to the Eastern Conference final for the third time in its history. They came very close to reaching the Stanley Cup Final, losing in double-overtime in Game 7.

The 2017–18 season was a big disappointment. Many key players left or were injured. Captain Erik Karlsson was injured, and Kyle Turris was traded. The team struggled and finished near the bottom of the league. Fans became unhappy with owner Eugene Melnyk.

Since 2017, the Senators have not made the playoffs. General manager Pierre Dorion traded away many top players for draft picks and young prospects. This was part of a "rebuilding" process. Key players like Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Matt Duchene were traded. In return, the team drafted a core of promising young players, including Tim Stuetzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Thomas Chabot.

During this time, fewer fans attended games. Many fans wanted Eugene Melnyk to sell the team. There was even an online campaign called "MelnykOut."

In the 2022–23 season, the team tried to compete for a playoff spot after adding veteran players like Claude Giroux. But they still missed the playoffs.

New Ownership

In March 2022, owner Eugene Melnyk passed away. For months, there was talk about who would buy the team. In December 2022, it was announced that the team would be sold. The only condition was that the team had to stay in Ottawa. Many famous people, including Ryan Reynolds and Snoop Dogg, were linked to groups interested in buying the team.

In September 2023, the sale of the Senators was completed. A group of investors led by Michael Andlauer bought the team. Eugene Melnyk's daughters kept a 10% share. Andlauer made Steve Staios the president of hockey operations. After the team lost a draft pick due to a trade mistake, Andlauer fired Pierre Dorion. Later, after a poor start to the season, coach D. J. Smith was also fired in December.

Team Look: Logos and Jerseys

The Senators' team colors are red, black, and white, with some gold. These are similar to the original Senators and other Ottawa sports teams.

The team's main logo is the head of a Roman general, like someone from the Roman Senate. It's shown coming out of a gold circle. There have been a few versions of the logo. The first one, from 1991, was changed slightly in 1996. In 1998, a new logo was introduced where the general's head faced forward instead of sideways.

The team's jerseys have also changed over the years.

• Original Jerseys (1992–2007): The first home jersey was white with black and red stripes. The away jersey was black. In 1998, a new red "third" jersey was added. In 2000, another black "third" jersey was introduced.
• 2007 Update: In 2007, the team unveiled new, more modern jerseys. They also updated their main logo, making it look stronger. A new "O" logo was added as a shoulder patch, similar to the original Ottawa Senators' logo.
• Later Third Jerseys: In 2008, a new black "third" jersey was introduced. In 2011, for the team's 20th anniversary, a "heritage" third jersey was unveiled. It had a "barber-pole" design with a large "O" on the front, like the old Senators' jerseys from the 1890s.
• 2020 Return to Original Style: In 2020, the Senators brought back their 1997–2007 logo as their main jersey logo. The new jerseys look similar to the original ones from the 1990s. They also introduced "Reverse Retro" alternate jerseys, which were red versions of their original 1992–93 uniform. In 2022–23, they wore another "Reverse Retro" jersey, based on their 1997–2007 alternates but in black.

Images for kids

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  Design using Ottawa Senators text and depiction of clock tower

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  The Senators played their home games at the Ottawa Civic Centre from 1992 to 1996.

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  The Senators' arena, Scotiabank Place, its name following the signing with Scotiabank for a 25-year, $25 million contract in January 2006. The team terminated the agreement seven years later and sold the naming rights to Canadian Tire Corporation, which gave the facility its present name.

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  Forward Dany Heatley netted two consecutive 50-goal seasons in 2005–06 and the following year.

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  Captain Daniel Alfredsson improved his play in the 2007 playoffs, tallying a league-leading 22 points.

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  Ottawa City Hall before game three of the Stanley Cup Finals

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  Fan-sponsored billboard

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  The Senators jerseys as used from 2003 until 2007