Ottawa Senators fantasy projections for 2022-23

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Ottawa Senators. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice" podcast.

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NOTES: These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Anna Dua and independent correspondent Jonathan Baron, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
Senators 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Brady Tkachuk, LW -- He had NHL career highs in goals (30), assists (37), points (led Ottawa Senators with 67 in 79 games), power-play points (17) and shots on goal (288; 10th in League) last season and should benefit from exposure to offseason additions in elite left wing Alex DeBrincat (acquired from Chicago Blackhawks) and valuable forward Claude Giroux (signed three-year contract). Tkachuk, who also has strong chemistry with center Josh Norris and right wing Drake Batherson, is the only player in the NHL with at least 900 shots on goal (981) and hits (995) since 2018-19 and should be considered a fringe top 25 overall fantasy player.
NHL.com point projection for Tkachuk: 73
Alex DeBrincat, LW -- He matched his highest goal total (41; tied for 13th in NHL) and set career highs in points (78), power-play points (28) and shots on goal (270; 14th) last season for Chicago with frequent exposure to elite right wing Patrick Kane. DeBrincat's shooting percentage (15.2) last season was nearly in line with his NHL career rate (15.5), so he can sustain that production either on Ottawa's top line with Norris or second unit with Tim Stützle or Giroux as his center. DeBrincat, who's tied for sixth in the NHL in goals over the past two seasons combined (73 in 134 games), gives the Senators two left wings in the fantasy top 15 at the position.
NHL.com point projection for DeBrincat: 75
Josh Norris, C -- He led the Senators in goals (35 in 66 games) and was tied for third in the NHL in power-play goals (16) last season; only Jason Robertson (41) of the Dallas Stars scored more goals among players who were 22 years old or younger last season. Whether Norris remains with Tkachuk and Batherson or plays with newcomers DeBrincat and Giroux, he has the ceiling of being a point-per-game player over a full season and should be considered a top 75 overall fantasy option.
NHL.com point projection for Norris: 70

Claude Giroux, C/RW -- He was better than a point per game (1.28; 23 in 18 games) with the Florida Panthers last season after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers and should have extra motivation playing for his hometown team in Ottawa. Giroux is projected to play on the second line, where he could bring exposure to DeBrincat and/or Stützle, and is a dual-eligible fantasy target with a high ceiling (102 points with Flyers in 2017-18) and strong power-play track record (five seasons with at least 31 power-play points).
NHL.com point projection for Giroux: 64
Tim Stutzle, C/LW -- He was second on the Senators in points (58) and led them in power-play points (26) last season after finishing strong with 31 points in his final 27 games (including 16 power-play points; tied for third most PPP in NHL from March 5 to end of season). Stutzle, who's 20 years old, should be considered a top 15 overall player in most keeper and dynasty leagues, a full-fledged breakout candidate and one of the biggest teammate beneficiaries of offseason moves.
NHL.com point projection for Stutzle: 69
Thomas Chabot, D -- Despite being limited to 59 games last season, Chabot had 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists), making him one of 13 NHL defensemen with at least 30 points in each of the past four seasons. Chabot should be considered a fantasy bounce-back candidate (NHL career-high 55 points in 2018-19) and fringe top 15 defenseman who should be a focal point of what could be a drastically improved Senators offense (2.73 goals per game last season; 26th) and power play (19.3 percent).
NHL.com point projection for Chabot: 57
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Other OTT players to consider in fantasy: Drake Batherson, RW; Jake Sanderson, D; Anton Forsberg, G; Alex Formenton, LW; Mathieu Joseph, LW/RW
Injured player worth stashing in most leagues: Cam Talbot, G
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