Warsofsky Wants Sharks to Copy Senators
San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky says he wants the team to emulate the Ottawa Senators' style of play.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hockey
San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky wants the team to emulate the Ottawa Senators' style. The Senators missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons before Travis Green became head coach in 2024-25 and have since made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
Why it matters
The Sharks have missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, and the Senators' turnaround offers a model for a rebuilding club. Ottawa's approach shows how a team can move from a losing run to postseason contention through structure and discipline.
The Sharks are 7-6-1 to start the season, while the Senators went from seven straight years out of the playoffs to making the postseason in each of the last two seasons. Neither the Sharks' current pace nor the full effect of Ottawa's system on San Jose's roster has been quantified.
The players
Ryan Warsofsky
Warsofsky is the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, who has set out to model his team on the Ottawa Senators' approach.
Travis Green
Green is the Ottawa Senators' head coach since 2024-25, whose tenure has coincided with the team's return to the playoffs.
The details
Warsofsky described the Senators as a team that grew from tight-checking playoff hockey into a club that checks hard in the regular season. Ottawa plays a suffocating, fast style built on details and structure, which Warsofsky wants the Sharks to adopt. Alex Nedeljkovic is starting in goal, and Zack Ostapchuk will replace Adam Gaudette in the lineup.
Timeline
2024-25: Travis Green becomes Ottawa Senators head coach.
Last two seasons: Ottawa makes the playoffs but does not advance past the first round.
This afternoon: San Jose Sharks lineup expected to be announced.
Season Trajectory
Ottawa's climb from seven missed playoff seasons to two straight postseason appearances under Travis Green provides a template for the Sharks, who have also missed the playoffs seven years running. How closely San Jose can follow that path will shape its standing in the competitive balance of its division.
The Sharks' lineup changes, including Alex Nedeljkovic in goal and Zack Ostapchuk replacing Adam Gaudette, will be visible to fans at this afternoon's game. Fantasy managers tracking San Jose's rotation should note these changes when setting lineups.
The takeaway
A rebuilding team can change its trajectory by adopting a clear structure and playing it consistently over the regular season, as Ottawa did after seven missed playoff years. Fans watching the Sharks should track whether that discipline shows up in their results.
Further reading
For more on the team's background, see the Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Jose Hockey Now.
