The Canadian Tire Centre echoed with a tumultuous mix of disappointment and frustration Saturday night. The hometown fans, disheartened by their team’s fourth consecutive loss at home, voiced their displeasure as the Senators fell 6-4 to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.
There were boos, there were “Fire DJ” chants, and more. But as a pivotal stretch for the organization kicks off, the facts are simple: Ottawa currently sits dead last in the Eastern Conference with a 4-6 record through 10 games.
Following the game Tkachuk pulled no punches. “It’s frustrating and whenever you don’t win, it’s frustrating,” he articulated with raw honesty. The incessant negativity from the stands and the relentless chorus of boos didn’t go unnoticed. “I understand that they’re passionate fans… but when you face adversity, you don’t turn your back on the guys out there,” he continued. His frustration was unmistakable, emphasizing that despite the struggles, the team wasn’t giving up. “We’re playing hard… It’s not like we’re giving up out there,” he asserted, defending the team’s efforts until the final whistle.
Beyond the on ice woes, the Senators grappled with a myriad of off-ice distractions. The departure of General Manager Pierre Dorion, following the NHL’s discipline regarding the 2021 trade involving Evgenii Dadonov, had cast a shadow over the franchise. This penalty, involving the forfeiture of a first-round pick, added to the team’s struggles. The situation was further compounded by forward Shane Pinto’s suspension for 41 games due to activities tied to sports wagering. These off-ice tribulations only added to the mounting pressure on a team striving to find their rhythm in the current season.
Tkachuk, a cornerstone of the Senators’ lineup, remains optimistic that the team will turn things around. With eight goals and three assists in the season’s first ten games, the 24-year-old forward’s leadership on the ice is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing start to the 2023-24 campaign. Drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Tkachuk’s dedication to the Senators has been unwavering, despite the team’s prolonged playoff absence since the 2016-17 season.
The frustrations reverberating within the Ottawa Senators organization encapsulate more than just a string of losses. They highlight a team battling against both on-ice challenges and off-ice tribulations, striving to regain a level of success that’s largely eluded them in recent years. Tkachuk’s impassioned plea for support amidst adversity was another example of the captain trying to rally the troops, but was met largely with disdain outside the locker room.
Wanting to win, and taking the steps necessary to achieve wins are two very different things. And as the losses continue to mount, one has to wonder, when, rather than if, the next change will come from new owner Michael Andlauer.
The Senators are next in action on Wednesday November 8th against the Toronto Maple Leafs.