The 31-year-old Cousins spent the 2023-24 season with the Florida Panthers, scoring seven goals and eight assists for 15 points i n 69 regular-season games. The forward also had an assist in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games last spring, helping the Panthers win their Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Through 10 NHL seasons, Cousins has 71 goals and 109 assists for 180 points in 592 regular-season games with the Panthers, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers.
Cousins also has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 63 career playoff games.
Taken by the Flyers in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Cousins spent four seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds, scoring 102 goals and 189 assists for 291 points in 264 regular-season games. His most productive junior season came in 2012-13, where in 64 games, he scored 27 goals and 76 assists for 103 points.
Last season, the Senators went 37-41-4 with 78 points, seventh in the Atlantic Division and third-last in the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa selected defenseman Carter Yakemchuk No. 7 overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The right-handed product of the WHL’s Calgary Hitman finished the 2023-24 season with 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points and 120 penalty minutes. Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis wrote this about Yakemchuk in his final draft prospect rankings:
“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.”