D.J. Smith: 'Inner competition' key to Senators snapping playoff drought

Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith says competition within the team will be crucial for the club to return to the playoffs.

"I think the biggest thing is the inner competition," Smith said, per TSN. "We don't just have one or two top forwards or defensemen. We have guys that can take another spot on any given day. The job of the coach is to recognize who's going and put them on the ice when they're going.

"That's how we feel we can get ourselves over the hump, is that inner competition among the team."

The Senators haven't made the postseason since 2016-17 when they fell one win short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. It's been an arduous rebuild since, but the club is on the upswing thanks to a young core spearheaded by captain Brady Tkachuk and burgeoning superstar Tim Stutzle.

Ottawa was highly active this offseason in hopes of making a splash in the deep Atlantic Division, signing Vladimir Tarasenko and Joonas Korpisalo while also trading winger Alex DeBrincat.

The Senators also project to have prized trade acquisition Jakob Chychrun and second-line center Josh Norris, who was limited to eight games in 2022-23 due to injury, for the entire upcoming campaign. Smith believes the inclusion of Norris alone in the lineup will make a significant impact.

"The biggest thing for us is we have to be healthy. If we're healthy, we're going to be a really competitive hockey team," he said. "Especially with Josh, we're a completely different hockey team."

Ottawa's 86 points last season were its highest total since it last made the playoffs but was only good enough for 11th place in the conference and sixth in the division.