The 2022–23 Ottawa Senators season was the 31st season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators improved on their record compared to the previous season, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The Senators were officially eliminated from the playoffs on April 6, 2023, in the 79th game of the season.

Team business The National Capital Commission (NCC) resumed the process to redevelop the LeBreton Flats overall site, reserving the site of an arena and asking for preliminary bids on the arena site separately. After a February 2022 deadline to submit bids, the NCC announced that it had received several bids for the site. Local media speculated that the Senators were actively pursuing a bid, authorized by Eugene Melnyk shortly before his death. In June 2022, the NCC accepted the Senators' proposal for a new downtown arena and mixed-use development as part of the Lebreton Flats redevelopment. The team will lease the land for their development. Construction is not expected before 2024 after a leasing agreement is finalized and municipal review of the project is completed. The lease agreement is expected to be put in place by autumn of 2023. In related business, the outstanding lawsuits around the previous LeBreton bid were settled out of court in December 2022.

The team parted ways with their ECHL affiliate, the Atlanta Gladiators, and signed an affiliation agreement with the ECHL's Allen Americans.

On February 17, 2023, the Senators retired Chris Neil's no. 25 jersey.

Team sale In November 2022, it was reported that Eugene Melnyk's daughters, and heirs to his estate, had engaged Galatioto Sports Partners, a New York City investment banker, to facilitate a sale of the team. The Senators confirmed the planned sale on November 5, with a condition of sale being that the team remain in Ottawa. On November 7, Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds disclosed publicly that he was interested in being part of the consortium to purchase the team. This was followed by news of bids endorsed by Snoop Dogg and The Weeknd. However, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the bids for the franchise would "stand on their own merit" and that negotiating in public was discouraged. The group Reynolds aligned with withdrew from bidding before final bids were submitted.

The final deadline to submit binding bids was May 15, 2023. Four groups submitted binding bids. The groups were led by Michael Andlauer, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, Steve Apostolopoulos and Neko Sparks. Snoop Dogg is associated with the Sparks bid and The Weeknd with the Kimel bid. Andlauer was already a member of the NHL Board of Governors, being a minority owner of the Montreal Canadiens. The Kimels were former minority owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sparks is an entrepreneur focused on emerging technologies based in Los Angeles. Apostolopoulos is a Toronto-based billionaire who had previously attempted to purchase the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. On June 9, Apostolopoulos withdrew his bid from the process. On June 13, 2023, the Senators announced that a purchase agreement had been signed with the group of investors headed by Andlauer. The sale was finalized in September 2023.

Off-season The Senators began the off-season being very active in trades and personnel changes. On the first day of the entry draft, the team acquired scoring forward Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks, giving up their first-round and second-round picks in 2022 and a third-round pick in 2024. On July 11, 2022, the team traded away goaltender Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The following day, the Senators acquired goaltender Cam Talbot from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Filip Gustavsson.

The team also bought out forward Colin White and defenceman Michael Del Zotto. The team previously told forwards Chris Tierney, Adam Gaudette, and Tyler Ennis as well as defenceman Victor Mete that they would not be re-signed. Connor Brown was traded to the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick in the 2024 draft.

On the first day of free agency, the team signed free agent forward Claude Giroux. The next day, the team re-signed centre Josh Norris to an eight-year contract extension. The team added veterans Tyler Motte and Derick Brassard to complement the roster.

Former Senators defenceman Wade Redden was hired as a development coach, joining former Senators players Shean Donovan and Jesse Winchester as development coaches.

Standings Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The pre-season schedule was published on July 1, 2022. 2022 preseason game log: 5–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 24 Ottawa 1–4 Toronto Talbot 14,532 0–1–0 2 September 24 Ottawa 4–2 Toronto Forsberg 14,241 1–1–0 3 September 27 Ottawa 3–5 Winnipeg Mandolese 13,191 1–2–0 4 September 30 Toronto 6–3 Ottawa Forsberg 4,307 1–3–0 5 October 1 Montreal 4–5 Ottawa OT Sogaard 15,878 2–3–0 6 October 4 Ottawa 5–4 Montreal Forsberg 19,550 3–3–0 7 October 6 Montreal 3–4 Ottawa Forsberg 1,100 4–3–0 8 October 8 Montreal 2–3 Ottawa OT Hellberg 3,524 5–3–0

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on July 6, 2022. 2022–23 game logOctober: 4–4–0 (home: 4–1–0; road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 13 Ottawa 1–4 Buffalo Forsberg 15,364 0–1–0 0 2 October 15 Ottawa 2–3 Toronto Forsberg 18,709 0–2–0 0 3 October 18 Boston 5–7 Ottawa Forsberg 19,811 1–2–0 2 4 October 20 Washington 2–5 Ottawa Forsberg 14,210 2–2–0 4 5 October 22 Arizona 2–6 Ottawa Forsberg 15,107 3–2–0 6 6 October 24 Dallas 2–4 Ottawa Hellberg 12,088 4–2–0 8 7 October 27 Minnesota 4–2 Ottawa Forsberg 13,870 4–3–0 8 8 October 29 Ottawa 3–5 Florida Forsberg 15,577 4–4–0 8 November: 4–9–1 (home: 1–6–0; road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 1 Ottawa 3–4 Tampa Bay Forsberg 19,092 4–5–0 8 10 November 3 Vegas 5–4 Ottawa Forsberg 16,043 4–6–0 8 11 November 5 Philadelphia 2–1 Ottawa Talbot 16,722 4–7–0 8 12 November 8 Vancouver 6–4 Ottawa Talbot 13,351 4–8–0 8 13 November 10 Ottawa 3–4 New Jersey OT Forsberg 13,806 4–8–1 9 14 November 12 Ottawa 4–1 Philadelphia Talbot 16,912 5–8–1 11 15 November 14 NY Islanders 4–2 Ottawa Talbot 13,408 5–9–1 11 16 November 16 Buffalo 1–4 Ottawa Forsberg 13,558 6–9–1 13 17 November 19 New Jersey 5–1 Ottawa Forsberg 18,881 6–10–1 13 18 November 21 Ottawa 1–5 San Jose Talbot 11,295 6–11–1 13 19 November 23 Ottawa 1–4 Vegas Talbot 17,955 6–12–1 13 20 November 25 Ottawa 5–1 Anaheim Talbot 14,278 7–12–1 15 21 November 27 Ottawa 3–2 Los Angeles Talbot 15,136 8–12–1 17 22 November 30 NY Rangers 3–1 Ottawa Talbot 14,654 8–13–1 17 December: 8–4–2 (home: 4–1–1; road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 2 Ottawa 3–2 NY Rangers OT Talbot 18,006 9–13–1 19 24 December 3 San Jose 2–5 Ottawa Forsberg 17,101 10–13–1 21 25 December 6 Los Angeles 5–2 Ottawa Talbot 13,459 10–14–1 21 26 December 8 Ottawa 3–4 Dallas OT Forsberg 18,023 10–14–2 22 27 December 10 Ottawa 3–2 Nashville Talbot 17,414 11–14–2 24 28 December 12 Anaheim 0–3 Ottawa Talbot 14,204 12–14–2 26 29 December 14 Montreal 2–3 Ottawa Talbot 19,567 13–14–2 28 30 December 17 Ottawa 6–3 Detroit Talbot 19,515 14–14–2 30 31 December 18 Ottawa 2–4 Minnesota Forsberg 18,213 14–15–2 30 32 December 20 Ottawa 1–5 Winnipeg Talbot 14,277 14–16–2 30 33 December 22 Washington 3–2 Ottawa OT Talbot 17,231 14–16–3 31 — December 23 Detroit Ottawa Postponed due to winter storm. Moved to February 27. 34 December 27 Boston 2–3 Ottawa SO Talbot 20,016 15–16–3 33 35 December 29 Ottawa 4–3 Washington OT Talbot 18,573 16–16–3 35 36 December 31 Ottawa 2–4 Detroit Talbot 19,515 16–17–3 35 January: 8–6–0 (home: 5–3–0; road: 3–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 1 Buffalo 1–3 Ottawa Forsberg 18,231 17–17–3 37 38 January 3 Columbus 0–4 Ottawa Forsberg 14,457 18–17–3 39 39 January 7 Seattle 8–4 Ottawa Talbot 19,347 18–18–3 39 40 January 9 Nashville 3–0 Ottawa Talbot 13,362 18–19–3 39 41 January 12 Ottawa 5–3 Arizona Forsberg 4,600 19–19–3 41 42 January 14 Ottawa 0–7 Colorado Forsberg 18,124 19–20–3 41 43 January 16 Ottawa 1–2 St. Louis Talbot 18,096 19–21–3 41 44 January 18 Pittsburgh 4–5 Ottawa OT Talbot 17,106 20–21–3 43 45 January 20 Ottawa 1–4 Pittsburgh Talbot 18,237 20–22–3 43 46 January 21 Winnipeg 5–1 Ottawa Forsberg 19,042 20–23–3 43 47 January 25 NY Islanders 1–2 Ottawa Talbot 13,980 21–23–3 45 48 January 27 Ottawa 6–2 Toronto Forsberg 18,727 22–23–3 47 49 January 28 Montreal 0–5 Ottawa Forsberg 20,034 23–23–3 49 50 January 31 Ottawa 5–4 Montreal Forsberg 21,105 24–23–3 51 February: 6–3–1 (home: 4–1–1; road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 11 Edmonton 6–3 Ottawa Forsberg 20,041 24–24–3 51 52 February 13 Calgary 3–4 Ottawa OT Sogaard 15,024 25–24–3 53 53 February 14 Ottawa 3–2 NY Islanders SO Mandolese 15,134 26–24–3 55 54 February 17 Chicago 4–3 Ottawa OT Sogaard 19,125 26–24–4 56 55 February 19 St. Louis 2–7 Ottawa Sogaard 18,871 27–24–4 58 56 February 20 Ottawa 1–3 Boston Mandolese 17,850 27–25–4 58 57 February 24 Ottawa 0–4 Carolina Talbot 18,788 27–26–4 58 58 February 25 Ottawa 5–2 Montreal Sogaard 21,105 28–26–4 60 59 February 27 Detroit 2–6 Ottawa Talbot 16,214 29–26–4 62 60 February 28 Detroit 1–6 Ottawa Sogaard 14,071 30–26–4 64 March: 7–7–1 (home: 4–1–1; road: 3–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 61 March 2 Ottawa 5–3 NY Rangers Talbot 18,006 31–26–4 66 62 March 4 Columbus 2–5 Ottawa Talbot 18,073 32–26–4 68 63 March 6 Ottawa 0–5 Chicago Sogaard 15,049 32–27–4 68 64 March 9 Ottawa 5–4 Seattle Sogaard 17,151 33–27–4 70 65 March 11 Ottawa 2–5 Vancouver Sogaard 18,813 33–28–4 70 66 March 12 Ottawa 1–5 Calgary Mandolese 17,031 33–29–4 70 67 March 14 Ottawa 3–6 Edmonton Sogaard 18,347 33–30–4 70 68 March 16 Colorado 5–4 Ottawa Sogaard 19,158 33–31–4 70 69 March 18 Toronto 5–4 Ottawa SO Sogaard 20,092 33–31–5 71 70 March 20 Ottawa 2–1 Pittsburgh Ferguson 17,080 34–31–5 73 71 March 21 Ottawa 1–2 Boston Sogaard 17,850 34–32–5 73 72 March 23 Tampa Bay 2–7 Ottawa Sogaard 16,133 35–32–5 75 73 March 25 Ottawa 3–5 New Jersey Ferguson 16,514 35–33–5 75 74 March 27 Florida 2–5 Ottawa Sogaard 16,047 36–33–5 77 75 March 30 Philadelphia 4–5 Ottawa OT Talbot 17,518 37–33–5 79 April: 2–2–3 (home: 2–1–0; road: 0–1–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 76 April 1 Toronto 3–0 Ottawa Sogaard 20,097 37–34–5 79 77 April 2 Ottawa 3–4 Columbus OT Talbot 18,872 37–34–6 80 78 April 4 Ottawa 2–3 Carolina OT Merilainen 18,680 37–34–7 81 79 April 6 Ottawa 2–7 Florida Merilainen 16,675 37–35–7 81 80 April 8 Tampa Bay 4–7 Ottawa Talbot 19,044 38–35–7 83 81 April 10 Carolina 2–3 Ottawa Sogaard 18,688 39–35–7 85 82 April 13 Ottawa 3–4 Buffalo OT Sogaard 16,739 39–35–8 86 Legend:

Player statistics Final Statistics

Skaters Regular season Player 78 39 51 90 −3 54 82 35 48 83 −10 126 82 35 44 79 +4 34 82 27 39 66 −31 45 82 22 40 62 −35 33 68 11 30 41 −11 52 82 20 15 35 −21 18 77 4 28 32 −6 12 62 13 10 23 +3 30 75 6 15 21 −5 71 56 3 15 18 +5 36 74 2 16 18 +5 38 65 2 14 16 0 10 75 9 2 11 −7 123 65 7 4 11 −6 102 60 4 6 10 −4 35 53 3 7 10 +2 39 ‡ 38 3 6 9 +1 4 20 2 7 9 +1 12 † 17 3 2 5 −1 2 † 12 2 3 5 −1 8 † 18 2 3 5 +4 27 ‡ 28 0 5 5 −5 8 55 1 3 4 −9 37 8 2 1 3 −1 6 5 1 1 2 +2 0 8 0 2 2 −1 2 11 1 0 1 −2 0 19 0 1 1 −2 11 2 0 0 0 −2 4 7 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 −3 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders