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Nick Cousins reveals Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux pushed him to join Senators since start of FA
Nick Cousins has signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Ottawa Senators. After two seasons with the Florida Panthers, Cousins is joining Ottawa.
He said that Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and forward Claude Giroux strongly encouraged him to sign with the team.
"Nick Cousins tells us Tkachuk and Giroux have been trying to recruit him to Ottawa since Free Agency opened," Graham Creech shared on X.
The push from Tkachuk and Giroux began right when free agency started, as the duo were eager to add Cousins to their roster. The move marks Cousins’ seventh NHL team after the Panthers chose not to offer him a new contract after his last one expired.
Cousins has played for several teams, including Philadelphia, Arizona, Montreal, Vegas and Nashville, before Florida. With the Panthers, he scored nine goals in his first season but had a tougher second season due to a concussion following a hit by Jason Zucker. Despite some negative comments about his playing style, Cousins believes his reputation is unfair.
Nick Cousins, from Belleville, Ontario, helped the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in 2024. During the playoffs, he appeared in 12 games. In the regular season, he scored 15 points, with seven goals and eight assists, and had 64 penalty minutes in 69 games.
The Senators hope that Cousins’ versatility and experience will help them this season. He can play different roles and is expected to add depth to the their lineup.
Senators GM Steve Staios praises Nick Cousins' experience and grit
Steve Staios, the Senators general manager, praised Cousins for his NHL experience and Cup Final appearances. He noted Cousins' grit and competitive nature.
“Nick has gained a lot of valuable experience playing almost 600 games in the NHL and having played in the Stanley Cup Finals in two straight seasons” Staios said (via NHL.com).
“He brings grit and tenacity to his game. That adds to the competitive nature of our group.”
Former NHL enforcer Paul Bissonnette also supported the Senators' signing, calling Cousins a tough opponent with offensive skills. Bissonnette described him as both challenging to play against and versatile.
"Guy brings it every night just an absolute piece of shit to play against what a bargain for the Senators. Has offensive upside too. He can make plays or can stick you in the ball bag in a scrum. Gamer," Bissonnette tweeted.
Nick Cousins has played 592 NHL games with teams like the Panthers and has 180 points and 312 penalty minutes. He was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
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