Ottawa is closing out another chapter in the Senators' ongoing rebuild story, and as the 2025-26 season draws to a close, it's time to look back at the players who made the biggest impact at Canadian Tire Centre this year.
Most Valuable Player
For a team still finding its identity, this award usually goes to the player who showed up night after night regardless of the score. This season, that reliability came from the forward corps, where Ottawa's top-line talent continued to develop into one of the more exciting groups in the Eastern Conference. When the Senators needed a big goal or a momentum shift, fans knew who to look to.
Best Defenseman
Ottawa's blueline has been a work in progress for years, but 2025-26 showed real signs of maturation. The team's shutdown defenders logged heavy minutes against opposing top lines, and at least one blueliner emerged as a genuine two-way threat — generating offence from the back end while holding things down in the defensive zone. That kind of balanced play is exactly what a young team needs to take the next step.
Best Goaltending Performance
Goaltending can make or break a season, and Ottawa got stretches of excellent play between the pipes this year. There were nights when the netminder stood tall and kept the Senators in games they had no business winning — the kind of performances that quietly buy a team points in a crowded playoff race.
Unsung Hero
Every roster has a player whose contributions don't show up cleanly on a scoresheet. This season's unsung hero was likely found somewhere in the bottom six, winning battles along the boards, killing penalties, and setting the tone in the corners. Ottawa's depth forwards have steadily improved, and that culture shift matters more than it looks from the outside.
Most Improved Player
Perhaps the most exciting award of the bunch, the most improved Senator this season was a young player who entered the year with questions surrounding his game and answered nearly all of them. Increased ice time, better positioning, and a sharper compete level — the combination of all three made for a genuine breakout campaign.
Looking Ahead
The season-end awards are more than just a formality — they're a snapshot of where this franchise is heading. Ottawa has drafted well, developed patiently, and is starting to accumulate the kind of roster depth that contending teams rely on. The Senators may not have cracked the playoffs this year, but the trajectory feels right.
For a fanbase that has waited a long time for this team to turn the corner, the 2025-26 awards conversation is a genuinely hopeful one. The pieces are coming together, and the culture inside the dressing room appears to be following suit.
Source: The Hockey Writers
