The 2023–24 Ottawa Senators season was the 32nd season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators failed to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the seventh straight season after losing 4–3 to the New Jersey Devils on April 6, 2024 at the 76th game of the season. This was the Senators' first season under the new ownership of Michael Andlauer.

Off-season The biggest change for the Senators was the change in ownership, from the estate of the late Eugene Melnyk to the ownership of a group of investors led by Michael Andlauer. The change became official in September 2023. Andlauer made changes in the executive staff, bringing back founder Cyril Leeder as CEO and club president, and Steve Staios as president of hockey operations.

On the ice, the team traded Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings, in return for Dominik Kubalik, prospect Donovan Sebrango and two draft picks. In free agency, the Senators picked up goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, and forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Zack MacEwen.

Regular season The Senators started the season with centre Shane Pinto unsigned as a restricted free agent. Speculation in the media was that the Senators did not have salary cap room and would have to trade a player. However, the NHL announced on October 26 a 41-game suspension of Pinto due to gambling activities. The Senators had been advised prior to the start of the season. The suspension was negotiated with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and back-dated to the start of the season. The NHL stated that there was no evidence that Pinto had bet on NHL games himself. As a condition of the suspension, Pinto will not require special permission to return to the NHL and can re-sign with the Senators at any time before the 42nd game of the season to be able to play this season.

On November 1, 2023, the NHL announced that the Senators would forfeit a first-round pick in either the 2024, 2025 or 2026 NHL Entry Drafts. This was levied by the NHL as punishment for failing to disclose the no-trade list of Evgeni Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights when he was traded to the Knights. The list came to light when the Knights attempted to trade Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks, a team on the no-trade list. The trade was nullified by the NHL. Also on November 1, 2023 the team announced the departure of general manager Pierre Dorion, as a 'mutual parting of ways.' Hockey president Steve Staios took over as interim general manager. The Senators played two games in Stockholm at the Avicii Arena on November 16 and 18 as part of the NHL Global Series.

After a four-game losing streak, and the Senators in the Eastern Conference basement, the Senators fired head coach D. J. Smith and assistant coach Davis Payne on December 18, 2023. Coaching advisor Jacques Martin, a former head coach of the Senators, was named interim head coach. Former player Daniel Alfredsson replaced Payne as assistant coach. Changes continued as Staios was named permanent general manager, the team added Dave Poulin as vice-president of hockey operations in late December. In January 2024, Zac Bierk was relieved of his goaltending coach duties and re-assigned as a scout within the organization and was replaced by Justin Peters.

The Senators missed the playoffs again. The team finished 13 points behind the final wild card position, held by the Washington Capitals.

After the season, on May 7, the Senators announced their new head coach Travis Green, a former head coach with the Vancouver Canucks, and former player.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The pre-season schedule was published on June 23, 2023. 2023 preseason game log: 6–2–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 24 Toronto 2–3 Ottawa Forsberg 15,013 1–0–0 2 September 25 Ottawa 4–3 Toronto OT Sogaard 14,296 2–0–0 3 September 27 Ottawa 3–4 Montreal Korpisalo 20,225 2–1–0 4 September 29 Winnipeg 1–3 Ottawa Mandolese 12,276 3–1–0 5 October 1 Florida 2–4 Ottawa Forsberg 4,926 4–1–0 6 October 2 Ottawa 3–0 Pittsburgh Korpisalo 10,595 5–1–0 7 October 5 Ottawa 3–0 Winnipeg Forsberg 13,601 6–1–0 8 October 7 Montreal 6–4 Ottawa Sogaard 17,601 6–2–0

Regular season The Ottawa Senators regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023. 2023–24 game logOctober: 4–4–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 11 Ottawa 3–5 Carolina Korpisalo 18,893 0–1–0 0 2 October 14 Philadelphia 2–5 Ottawa Forsberg 20,011 1–1–0 2 3 October 15 Tampa Bay 2–5 Ottawa Korpisalo 15,584 2–1–0 4 4 October 18 Washington 1–6 Ottawa Forsberg 15,021 3–1–0 6 5 October 21 Detroit 5–2 Ottawa Korpisalo 18,834 3–2–0 6 6 October 24 Buffalo 6–4 Ottawa Forsberg 14,278 3–3–0 6 7 October 26 Ottawa 2–3 NY Islanders Korpisalo 14,911 3–4–0 6 8 October 28 Ottawa 5–2 Pittsburgh Korpisalo 17,631 4–4–0 8 November: 4–5–0 (home: 3–5–0; road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 2 Los Angeles 3–2 Ottawa Korpisalo 16,216 4–5–0 8 10 November 4 Tampa Bay 6–4 Ottawa Korpisalo 17,387 4–6–0 8 11 November 8 Ottawa 6–3 Toronto Korpisalo 18,372 5–6–0 10 12 November 9 Vancouver 5–2 Ottawa Forsberg 16,653 5–7–0 10 13 November 11 Calgary 1–4 Ottawa Korpisalo 18,874 6–7–0 12 14 November 16 Detroit 4–5 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 12,487 7–7–0 14 15 November 18 Minnesota 1–2 Ottawa SO Forsberg 13,213 8–7–0 16 16 November 24 NY Islanders 5–3 Ottawa Forsberg 17,693 8–8–0 16 17 November 27 Florida 5–0 Ottawa Korpisalo 15,594 8–9–0 16 December: 6–9–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 18 December 1 Ottawa 2–4 Columbus Korpisalo 15,552 8–10–0 16 19 December 2 Seattle 0–2 Ottawa Forsberg 18,159 9–10–0 18 20 December 5 NY Rangers 2–6 Ottawa Forsberg 17,362 10–10–0 20 21 December 7 Toronto 4–3 Ottawa Forsberg 19,309 10–11–0 20 22 December 9 Ottawa 5–1 Detroit Korpisalo 19,515 11–11–0 22 23 December 12 Carolina 4–1 Ottawa Korpisalo 16,877 11–12–0 22 24 December 14 Ottawa 2–4 St. Louis Korpisalo 18,096 11–13–0 22 25 December 15 Ottawa 4–5 Dallas Forsberg 18,532 11–14–0 22 26 December 17 Ottawa 3–6 Vegas Korpisalo 17,892 11–15–0 22 27 December 19 Ottawa 3–4 Arizona Korpisalo 4,600 11–16–0 22 28 December 21 Ottawa 4–6 Colorado Korpisalo 18,107 11–17–0 22 29 December 23 Pittsburgh 4–5 Ottawa OT Forsberg 19,286 12–17–0 24 30 December 27 Ottawa 4–2 Toronto Korpisalo 19,261 13–17–0 26 31 December 29 New Jersey 6–2 Ottawa Korpisalo 20,022 13–18–0 26 32 December 31 Buffalo 1–5 Ottawa Forsberg 19,421 14–18–0 28 January: 6–7–2 (home: 3–2–2; road: 3–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 33 January 2 Ottawa 3–6 Vancouver Forsberg 18,810 14–19–0 28 34 January 4 Ottawa 1–4 Seattle Korpisalo 17,151 14–20–0 28 35 January 6 Ottawa 1–3 Edmonton Forsberg 18,347 14–21–0 28 36 January 9 Ottawa 3–6 Calgary Korpisalo 17,219 14–22–0 28 37 January 11 Ottawa 3–5 Buffalo Korpisalo 16,083 14–23–0 28 38 January 13 San Jose 4–5 Ottawa Korpisalo 18,764 15–23–0 30 39 January 16 Colorado 7–4 Ottawa Sogaard 16,242 15–24–0 30 40 January 18 Montreal 2–6 Ottawa Korpisalo 19,286 16–24–0 32 41 January 20 Winnipeg 2–1 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 19,388 16–24–1 33 42 January 21 Ottawa 5–3 Philadelphia Sogaard 18,930 17–24–1 35 43 January 23 Ottawa 4–1 Montreal Korpisalo 21,105 18–24–1 37 44 January 25 Boston 3–2 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 18,722 18–24–2 38 45 January 27 NY Rangers 7–2 Ottawa Korpisalo 19,262 18–25–2 38 46 January 29 Nashville 3–4 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 16,284 19–25–2 40 47 January 31 Ottawa 3–2 Detroit OT Korpisalo 19,515 20–25–2 42 February: 5–4–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 48 February 10 Toronto 3–5 Ottawa Korpisalo 19,679 21–25–2 44 49 February 13 Columbus 3–6 Ottawa Forsberg 15,203 22–25–2 46 50 February 15 Anaheim 5–1 Ottawa Korpisalo 16,297 22–26–2 46 51 February 17 Ottawa 2–3 Chicago Korpisalo 18,888 22–27–2 46 52 February 19 Ottawa 4–2 Tampa Bay Forsberg 19,092 23–27–2 48 53 February 20 Ottawa 2–3 Florida OT Korpisalo 19,000 23–27–3 49 54 February 22 Dallas 1–4 Ottawa Forsberg 16,118 24–27–3 51 55 February 24 Vegas 3–4 Ottawa SO Forsberg 19,197 25–27–3 53 56 February 26 Ottawa 3–6 Washington Forsberg 17,296 25–28–3 53 57 February 27 Ottawa 1–4 Nashville Korpisalo 17,159 25–29–3 53 March: 8–7–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 5–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 58 March 1 Arizona 5–3 Ottawa Forsberg 17,734 25–30–3 53 59 March 2 Ottawa 2–4 Philadelphia Sogaard 18,971 25–31–3 53 60 March 6 Ottawa 1–2 Anaheim Sogaard 14,000 25–32–3 53 61 March 7 Ottawa 3–4 Los Angeles OT Korpisalo 16,855 25–32–4 54 62 March 9 Ottawa 1–2 San Jose Korpisalo 17,008 25–33–4 54 63 March 12 Pittsburgh 1–2 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 19,296 26–33–4 56 64 March 14 Ottawa 3–2 Columbus SO Forsberg 15,667 27–33–4 58 65 March 16 Ottawa 4–3 NY Islanders OT Korpisalo 17,255 28–33–4 60 66 March 17 Carolina 7–2 Ottawa Forsberg 16,273 28–34–4 60 67 March 19 Ottawa 2–6 Boston Korpisalo 17,850 28–35–4 60 68 March 21 St. Louis 5–2 Ottawa Forsberg 16,040 28–36–4 60 69 March 23 Ottawa 5–2 New Jersey Korpisalo 16,514 29–36–4 62 70 March 24 Edmonton 3–5 Ottawa Korpisalo 19,344 30–36–4 64 71 March 27 Ottawa 6–2 Buffalo Korpisalo 14,583 31–36–4 66 72 March 28 Chicago 0–2 Ottawa Forsberg 19,292 32–36–4 68 73 March 30 Ottawa 3–2 Winnipeg Korpisalo 15,225 33–36–4 70 April: 4–5–0 (home: 1–2–0; road: 3–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 74 April 2 Ottawa 2–3 Minnesota Korpisalo 18,056 33–37–4 70 75 April 4 Florida 6–0 Ottawa Korpisalo 17,653 33–38–4 70 76 April 6 New Jersey 4–3 Ottawa Korpisalo 19,146 33–39–4 70 77 April 7 Ottawa 3–2 Washington OT Korpisalo 17,902 34–39–4 72 78 April 9 Ottawa 0–2 Florida Korpisalo 17,872 34–40–4 72 79 April 11 Ottawa 3–2 Tampa Bay SO Forsberg 19,092 35–40–4 74 80 April 13 Montreal 4–5 Ottawa SO Korpisalo 19,337 36–40–4 76 81 April 15 Ottawa 0–4 NY Rangers Korpisalo 18,006 36–41–4 76 82 April 16 Ottawa 3–1 Boston Forsberg 17,850 37–41–4 78 Legend:

Notes: Game was played at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Player statistics Final statistics

Skaters Regular season Player 81 37 37 74 +1 134 75 18 52 70 −17 28 82 28 38 66 −9 42 82 21 43 64 −14 26 ‡ 57 17 24 41 +13 12 82 14 27 41 −30 60 79 10 28 38 +8 23 72 11 24 35 −4 51 50 16 14 30 −6 22 51 9 21 30 −3 22 41 9 18 27 +9 14 72 13 13 26 +11 66 69 5 20 25 +5 32 76 3 17 20 +5 36 80 8 10 18 −8 30 74 11 4 15 −30 19 72 4 10 14 −7 25 63 5 5 10 −5 63 48 2 4 6 −10 40 † 21 2 2 4 −4 0 37 2 1 3 −4 14 30 2 1 3 −4 57 13 2 1 3 −3 4 20 1 1 2 −6 4 7 0 2 2 0 0 7 0 1 1 −5 4 9 0 1 1 −1 2 7 0 0 0 −1 2 7 0 0 0 −1 0 6 0 0 0 +1 7 4 0 0 0 +1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 55 49 3080:28 21 26 4 168 3.27 1522 .890 0 0 1 0 30 28 1569:09 15 12 0 84 3.21 766 .890 2 0 1 2 6 5 281:34 1 3 0 19 4.05 135 .859 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Senators. Stats reflect time with the Senators only. ‡No longer with the Senators.

Awards and milestones

Milestones