Next up in our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Breakouts series is the Ottawa Senators. The Ottawa Senators are heading in the right direction and may have a playoff-caliber roster in 2023-24. Leading the way are stars like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Claude Giroux, Thomas Chabot, and Jakob Chychrun. However, they also have clear breakout candidates whom fantasy managers should add to their teams. Let’s discuss three of them now.
Ottawa Senators Fantasy Hockey Breakouts for 2023-24
Jake Sanderson
Jake Sanderson came as advertised as a rookie in 2022-23 for the Senators. In 77 games, the 2020 fifth-overall pick posted four goals and 32 points. These offensive numbers were strong from the youngster, but he should improve upon them noticeably in 2023-24. This is because he now has more NHL experience and will see more power-play time.
Sanderson also showed as a rookie that he has the tools to be an elite two-way defenseman. His defensive play improved as the year rolled on, and it should only continue to this upcoming campaign. Because of all of this, he is a young defenseman worth selecting once the stars start coming off the board in your fantasy drafts.
Shane Pinto
Speaking of promising young Senators players, Shane Pinto is also a prime breakout candidate. The 22-year-old thrived during his first full NHL season in 2022-23, posting 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games. The skilled forward showed that he can produce at the NHL level, and his numbers should skyrocket now that he has more talent around him in 2023-24.
The one issue with Pinto from a fantasy hockey perspective is that he is still an RFA. At this time, the Senators and Pinto are not making much progress on a new deal, so there is a chance that this carries over to the start of the year. If this happens, he is a player worth adding as an in-season addition. However, if he inks a new deal soon, pick him in your later rounds.
Ridly Greig
Ridly Greig is another breakout candidate to watch closely this season. The 2020 first-round pick appeared in 20 games with the Senators in 2022-23, posting two goals and nine points. He also left a mark physically, recording 33 hits. After a strong start to his career, he is likely to start the season with the NHL club. If he successfully builds on his solid start, he could be in for a big year with the Senators.
Greig is expected to have a third-line role with the Senators at the start of the season. With that, it is likely that he will see power-play time Because of this and his grit, Greig has the tools to blossom into a key forward in the Senators’ lineup this campaign. Thus, don’t be afraid to take a chance on him in your fantasy hockey drafts.
Alas, it is apparent that the Senators have some excellent breakout candidates worth selecting in fantasy hockey. It is going to be intriguing to see how well Sanderson, Pinto, and Greig perform during the 2023-24 season. If they all take serious steps forward, expect the Senators to be playing postseason hockey in 2024.
Make sure to check out all of the sleepers and breakouts of the 2023 fantasy hockey season!