Senators name Thomas Chabot as their new captain

The Ottawa Senators have been through quite a bit of change this offseason. After trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers back in June, one of the biggest lingering questions surrounding the franchise was who would wear the "C" heading into the 2026-27 campaign. On Tuesday, the organization made it official, and honestly, it's hard to argue with the choice.

Thomas Chabot has been named the 11th captain in Senators franchise history. The 29-year-old defenseman, a native of Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, has spent over a decade within the organization since being selected 18th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He suited up for his first NHL game during the 2016-17 season before heading back to junior for one more year, then made the full-time leap to the pros in October 2017.

A Decade of Dedication

Chabot's resume with the Senators speaks for itself. In 569 career NHL games, he's racked up 335 points on 78 goals and 257 assists, along with 270 penalty minutes. Among defensemen who have played for the franchise since its modern relaunch in 1992, Chabot ranks third in goals, assists, and points. He currently sits 13th in overall games played in Senators history, and that number will only keep climbing.

Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios praised Chabot's character when making the announcement. He emphasized that Chabot represents everything the organization values, highlighting his commitment to both the city and the team, and his selfless approach to the game. Chabot himself echoed that sentiment, sharing that Ottawa truly feels like home. He and his family bought their first house in the city and started their family there, making the captaincy an incredibly meaningful honor on a personal level.

Chabot takes over the role from Tkachuk, who wore the "C" for five seasons beginning in 2021-22 before his departure to Florida. Before Tkachuk, the Senators actually went three years without a captain following the trade of Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2018-19 season. The lineage of Ottawa captains is a notable one, featuring names like Daniel Alfredsson, who held the role for 13 seasons, Jason Spezza, Karlsson, and now Chabot.

What Lies Ahead for Ottawa

Chabot won't be doing this alone. He'll be supported by a strong group of alternate captains in Claude Giroux, Jake Sanderson, and Tim Stutzle. Both Sanderson and Stutzle were reportedly considered candidates for the captaincy themselves, which speaks to the depth of leadership in Ottawa's locker room heading into this new chapter.

Currently signed through next season at a cap hit of $8 million, Chabot enters his 10th full season as a Senator with a new letter on his sweater and a team that's looking to take a significant step forward. Ottawa kicks off the 2026-27 season on Saturday with a road matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all eyes will be on Chabot as he leads his squad into a new era.