The waiting was tough for Nick Cousins, but it all turned out well when he signed a one-year, $ 800,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators just as training camp approaches on September 18 at the Canadian Tire Centre.
After winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on June 24, Cousins found himself on the free-agent market just a week later, on July 1. The transition from the high of winning the Cup to uncertainty about his next NHL destination brought a mix of emotions.
Now, as the Belleville native gears up to join his new Senators teammates for informal skates in Kanata, he feels a wave of excitement. “It’s been a long couple of weeks,” Cousins shared in an interview with Postmedia. “With all the excitement after winning and then diving into free agency, the process took longer than I expected. But ultimately, I’m in a good place and thrilled to be with a team that truly wants me.”
Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, has been actively reshaping the roster this offseason. This includes hiring head coach Travis Green in late May and making significant player acquisitions, such as bringing in goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins and signing veteran forwards David Perron and Mike Amadio, alongside defenseman Nick Jensen from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Jakob Chychrun.
The Senators are determined to end their nine-year playoff drought, and signing Cousins is another indication of their commitment to progress. The team’s core features captain Brady Tkachuk, along with rising stars like Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, Drake Batherson, Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Josh Norris, and veteran Claude Giroux.
Tkachuk and Giroux played pivotal roles in recruiting Cousins, reaching out to him regularly during the summer to make Ottawa his preferred destination. While the Toronto Maple Leafs expressed interest and the Panthers sought to re-sign him, Cousins ultimately chose the Senators.
“It’s a talented young team that probably didn’t live up to expectations last year,” he noted. “I like the moves they’ve made, especially solidifying their goaltending with Ullmark and adding Jensen. Plus, with Perron and Amadio, who are both Stanley Cup champions, they’ve boosted their top nine forwards to compete with anyone in the league.”
Cousins believes his championship experience can significantly contribute to the Senators’ aspirations of becoming a playoff contender. “Finding the right fit was important to me, and I know I can help this team,” he commented. “With my recent playoff runs and experience in high-pressure situations, I can be a valuable asset when the games get intense later in the season.”
Reflecting on his Cup win, Cousins cherished sharing that moment with loved ones during his time with the trophy. “Winning was surreal,” he said. “I ensured my day with the Cup was filled with family and friends who supported me throughout my career. It was everything I dreamed of and more, especially celebrating with my teammates in the locker room afterward. Seeing the raw emotion from coaches and players was unforgettable.”
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