The Ottawa Senators have named Thomas Chabot as the team’s new captain as the NHL’s 2026-27 regular season gets underway. Chabot replaces Brady Tkachuk, who was traded to the Florida Panthers in the offseason at his own request. From Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Que., Chabot, 29, has skated in 569 games during his NHL career over which he has scored 78 goals, made 257 assists and racked up 270 penalty minutes, including 7 goals, 24 assists and 22 penalty minutes last season. Chabot currently ranks 13th in Senators history in games played. Among defencemen who have played for the team since 1992, he ranks third in goals, assists, and points, the Senators say. “We’ve always said it. Ottawa feels like home. It really does,” said Chabot. “We bought our first house here. We started our family here. Becoming captain here is a huge honour.” Senators GM Steve Staois said Chabot “exemplifies everything we want in an Ottawa Senator.” “He’s commited to the city and to the organization. He puts the team first,” he said. Chabot, the longest-serving player on the Senators after being drafted by the team in 2015, reflected on his years as a player and the life milestones he and his family have seen along the way. “Ottawa’s home for us. We bought our first house here. We’ve had our first child here. Ottawa will always be close to our heart no matter what,” he said in a news conference Tuesday. “I take a lot of pride in coming to the rink every day.” Chabot and his wife welcomed their first child Romy last Thursday, both joining him as he was introduced for the first time as captain. Head coach Travis Green had no doubt about choosing Chabot for the role. “When we came to camp, we were asked a lot of questions and I think Tommy, Thomas was always probably at the forefront,” he said. “It’s clear for me that he’s going to be a great captain for our team.” Chabot will be supported by alternates Claude Giroux, Jake Sanderson and Tim Stützle, the team says. The Senators will open the regular season on Saturday against the Maple Leafs in Toronto. The Sens’ home opener at the Canadian Tire Centre will take place on Oct. 8. The team is coming off a first round loss in the NHL playoffs to the Carolina Hurricanes, which went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Panthers will visit Ottawa on Oct. 21 for a 7:30 p.m. game, marking Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa. With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson
