{"id":482463,"date":"2026-01-21T08:33:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T13:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=482463"},"modified":"2026-01-21T08:33:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T13:33:52","slug":"importance-of-jake-sanderson-leadership-ottawa-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/01\/21\/importance-of-jake-sanderson-leadership-ottawa-senators\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Jake Sanderson to the Ottawa Senators"},"content":{"rendered":"

The topsy-turvy world that is professional sports is in full effect for the Ottawa Senators. One aspect we would like to highlight is the unequivocal leader that superstar defenceman Jake Sanderson<\/a> has developed into for the Sens. So, let\u2019s discuss his impact, how the Sens got in their current predicament, and where they will go from here.<\/p>\n

The Sens 2025-26 is Similar to 2024-25<\/h2>\n

To explain the upside-down world that we are watching in front of our very eyes, let\u2019s travel back to 2024-25 for a moment. On January 9th<\/sup>, 2025, after a 4-0 home loss versus the Buffalo Sabres, things were looking pretty bleak. The club was 19-18-3, at the time. However, and mainly thanks for Leevi Merilainen<\/a>, the club quickly turned that the truck around. Merilainen played eight games, in a three-week span, and went 6-1-1. Overall, the club went on a 10-2-1 stretch. That really was the turning point<\/a> of their season. It would eventually spark their first Stanley Cup Playoff trip in seven years.<\/p>\n

On the flip side of the coin, you can really see how things can change. If we fast forward to present day, the Sens are 23-19-7. Furthermore, they just sent Merilainen back to the AHL, and recently signed 37-year-old<\/a> James Reimer<\/a>. To help the turn around, they now need to turn to their leaders.<\/p>\n

Jake Sanderon is the Sens Lead<\/h3>\n

Cue, Jake Sanderson. He is third on the team in points, and in the top ten among defencemen league wide. He\u2019s over 25 minutes a night, also leading the Sens. Also, he puts it all on the line, with 99 blocked shots, you guessed it, leading the Sens. As a note, Artem Zub<\/a> is well back in second at 72.<\/p>\n

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Jake Sanderson says he apologized to Leevi Merilainen for his comments on Saturday, saying the team needed more than 10 saves. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst off, I\u2019m pretty embarrassed. I think that\u2019s the situation where after a game you\u2019ve got to take a few more minutes. Take a few deep breaths\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n