2023–24 Ottawa Senators season

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.

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.

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.

The pre-season schedule was published on June 23, 2023.

The Ottawa Senators regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023.

Final statistics

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Senators. Stats reflect time with the Senators only.

‡No longer with the Senators.

The Senators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.

1. The Ottawa Senators will receive either the 2024 first-round pick of the Boston Bruins or the Detroit Red Wings. However, if the Bruins' pick is in the top ten, the Bruins will send their 2025 first-round draft pick. The Red Wings will then have the choice of sending Detroit's 2024 1st-round pick or the Bruins' 2025 1st-round pick.
2. The fourth-round pick in 2024 became a 2026 third-round pick after the Florida Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup.
3. The first-round pick the Ottawa Senators traded to the Boston Bruins was Boston's pick from the Alex DeBrincat trade.

†  Contract is entry-level.

 ‡  Contract takes effect in the 2024–25 season.

The 2023 NHL entry draft was held June 28–29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The Senators had previously traded their first-round, second-round, third-round and sixth-round picks. The Senators' first pick was made in the fourth round - defenceman Hoyt Stanley with the 108th overall pick.