Cousins, 31, spent the 2023-24 season with the Florida Panthers, where he contributed seven goals and eight assists, totaling 15 points in 69 regular-season games. He also added an assist in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games, playing a role in the Panthers’ historic Stanley Cup victory—their first in franchise history.

With a decade of NHL experience, Cousins has accumulated 71 goals and 109 assists, amounting to 180 points in 592 regular-season games. His career has seen him suit up for several teams, including the Panthers, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, and Philadelphia Flyers. In addition, Cousins has posted four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 63 career playoff games.

Originally selected by the Flyers in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Cousins honed his skills in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds. During his junior career, he tallied an impressive 102 goals and 189 assists for 291 points in 264 regular-season games. His standout season came in 2012-13, when he recorded 27 goals and 76 assists for 103 points in 64 games.

The Senators are looking to bounce back after a challenging 2023-24 season, where they finished with a 37-41-4 record, placing seventh in the Atlantic Division and third-last in the Eastern Conference.

In the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Ottawa selected defenseman Carter Yakemchuk with the No. 7 overall pick. Yakemchuk, a right-handed defenseman from the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, concluded the 2023-24 season with an impressive 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points, along with 120 penalty minutes. *Daily Faceoff* prospect analyst Steven Ellis highlighted Yakemchuk’s potential, noting, “That’s the type of stat line you’d expect from a power forward – instead, it’s a third-year defenseman that exceeded all expectations this year. Defensively, though, I still need to see more improvement. His decision-making under pressure leaves a bit to be desired, but the potential is high here. With some seasoning, Yakemchuk could be a high-output defender in the NHL.”

This new addition of Nick Cousins to the Senators’ roster is expected to bring valuable experience and depth as the team aims to improve in the upcoming season.