Prior to the 1996-97 season, losing was a common thing for the Ottawa Senators. From 1992-96, the Senators had won just 51 games in four combined seasons.
Of the four seasons, the 1992-93 season was the worst with winning 10 games. In the 1995-96 season, the Senators won 18 games, which was then a franchise record. Prior to the 1996-97 season, goaltender Ron Tugnutt signed with the Senators.
Tugnutt didn't play in the 1995-96 NHL season. Ottawa was Tugnutt's fifth team in his NHL career at the time. However, Tugnutt's in the cage would help turn the Senators franchise for the better starting in 1996-97.