OTTAWA — September 29, 2026. The Ottawa Senators named defenseman Thomas Chabot the 11th captain in franchise history, filling a leadership vacancy four days before their first game of the 2026–27 NHL season.
Chabot, 29, succeeds Brady Tkachuk, who captained Ottawa for five seasons before a June trade to the Florida Panthers. The Senators’ September 29 announcement identifies Claude Giroux, Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson as alternate captains.
Why Ottawa chose Chabot
Chabot is the club’s longest-serving current player. He made his NHL debut in the 2016–17 season after Ottawa selected him 18th overall in the 2015 draft. The team lists 335 points, including 78 goals, in 569 career regular-season games. His tenure spans rebuilding years and the club’s return to the playoffs.
Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios described Chabot as a player who puts the team first. Coach Travis Green said the choice became evident during training camp, according to NHL.com’s September 29 report. Their comments explain the team’s reasoning; they are not a prediction of how Ottawa will perform this season.
What changes for the Senators
The captain wears the “C” and serves as a visible on-ice leader, while the alternate captains share that responsibility. The appointment settles one roster question before Ottawa visits the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, October 3, according to NHL.com. It does not change game rules, standings or the club’s results.
The timing also places the announcement on the NHL’s opening day. The league’s 2026–27 schedule begins September 29 with an expanded 84-game regular season for each club. Ottawa’s own first game follows later in the week.
For broader sports coverage, AskNovus has also reported on the 2026 AP WNBA postseason awards.
Sources
Featured photo: Chris DeSort via Unsplash; illustrative hockey rink.
[…] Markstrom’s shutout in his return to Florida and Bussi’s 19-save effort kept the game close. The decisive goal came from a player who scored only twice in 80 regular-season games last season, according to the Reuters report. For another NHL personnel development before this season, see our report on the Ottawa Senators naming Thomas Chabot captain. […]