Jake Sanderson rightfully emerges as Senators' franchise player

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson is a franchise player.

You don’t need to be psychic to know that.

That’s why The Athletic was right to name Sanderson among its list of franchise players in a recent player tier ranking. Sanderson was named along with other high-end blueliners like Detroit Red Wings top D-man Moritz Seider and Dallas Stars mainstay Miro Heiskanen.

That’s some pretty lofty company. And it’s the type that Sanderson has inserted himself in.

The Senators' top blueliner has gradually built a significant resume for himself given his steady and reliable production. He plays both sides of the puck very well and, perhaps most importantly, you don’t notice him on the ice.

That’s not a knock on his performance. It’s actually one of the biggest compliments a defenseman can get.

You see, when blueliners mess up, it makes them instantly noticeable on ice. It’s virtually impossible not to notice when a guy gives the puck away or makes a dumb play.

That’s not Sanderson. He’s the sort of player that quietly plays the puck, makes things happen, and when he goes unnoticed, it’s because he makes highlight-reel plays.

But there is one question to consider: What does Jake Sanderson need to do to become an MVP-caliber player?

Sanderson needs time before he can become a truly MVP-caliber player for Senators

Really, the only thing that Jake Sanderson needs before he can insert himself into the MVP tier is time. It seems like it will only be a matter of time before Sanderson wins a Norris Trophy. Also, it seems inevitable that he’ll have a major statistical season.

In 2025-26, the Senators blueliner scored 14 goals and 54 points in 67 games. His numbers would have been much better had it not been for a shoulder injury that sidelined him for a bit.

That’s why a fully healthy Sanderson playing a full 82-84 games could reasonably top 20 goals and 80 points.

There’s no reason to think he couldn’t do it. In fact, it would be harder to build an argument against Sanderson putting together an amazing season than to justify it.

At 24, and with over 300 games of NHL experience under his belt, it seems like the sky is the limit for Sanderson.

Give him time. He still faces some stiff competition from guys like Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Werenski. But he’s not that far off. Jake Sanderson may just end up shocking everyone and seriously entering the Norris Trophy conversation as soon as this season.