OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have named defenseman Thomas Chabot the 11th captain in franchise history, announcing the decision on Sept. 29 to fill the vacancy created after Brady Tkachuk requested a trade and was dealt to the Florida Panthers. The move ends weeks of speculation and installs a long-tenured blueliner as the new face of the leadership group.
General manager Steve Staios announced the choice at a press conference, saying, “It doesn’t need to be said, but totally well earned and deserved. Thomas exemplifies everything that it means to be an Ottawa Senator. It is a proud day for us.” Chabot, whose daughter Romy was born just five days earlier, said, “Ottawa is home for us. We bought our first house here. We had our first child here. Ottawa will always be close to our heart no matter what," while noting his pride in the fanbase and wearing the jersey every game.
Chabot was selected 18th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and joined Ottawa full-time after the club’s 2017 run to the Eastern Conference Final. He posted 25 points in 63 games as a rookie, then delivered 55 points as a sophomore — still his career high through nine seasons — while developing into a well-rounded, puck-moving defenseman with shutdown ability who leads by example. Just ahead of the 2019-20 season, amid an ugly rebuild, he signed an eight-year deal that now has two seasons remaining, the first player to commit long-term during that teardown. Finding a steady partner has been a challenge since Dylan DeMelo was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets, with his most common partners since including Ron Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev, Erik Brannstrom and Travis Hamonic, plus stints with Artem Zub and a strong season alongside Nick Jensen.
Chabot was chosen ahead of fellow candidates Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Claude Giroux, though the club views that depth as a luxury and not a knock on those not selected. He was runner-up for the captaincy in 2021 before Tkachuk was given the “C.” The change also closes a distracting offseason saga. It had been reported the locker room grew tired of the constant Tkachuk rumors as long as he remained in Ottawa, and that some players were uneasy with his Wingmen podcast. With the trade complete, questions about who would take Tkachuk’s spot now have a clear answer.
A longtime member of the leadership group, Chabot now carries a louder voice as Ottawa chases high aspirations in a difficult Atlantic Division. The Senators are counting on him to steady the room and lead a push deep into the playoffs.