The 1928–29 Ottawa Senators season was the club's 12th season in the NHL, 44th overall. The Senators' financial troubles continued, as the team sold Punch Broadbent to the New York Americans. There were numerous rumours that the team was going to be sold to a group from Chicago: Senators owner Frank Ahearn denied this, but admitted that the team was for sale to the highest bidder. Once again, for the second straight year, the Senators would play two "home" games in Detroit due to poor fan support when US-based teams would play games in Ottawa.

Team business

The team was sold in February 1929 to the Ottawa Auditorium for CA$125,000. Ahearn had had offers rumoured to be as high as $250,000, but chose to keep the ownership local. As well, Ahearn was a shareholder in the Auditorium which stood to lose its prime tenant. The shareholders of the Auditorium financed the purchase with $125,000 of preferred shares in the Auditorium. NHL president Frank Calder addressed an Ottawa Rotary Club meeting that February, and told the attendees: "The team cannot live on tradition and sentiment. In the last analysis, it depends on the people of Ottawa whether the team remains or not."

Regular season

On the ice, the Senators struggled to score goals, scoring only 54, the fourth fewest in the league. Frank Finnigan scored 15 of them to lead the team, and finish with a club high of 19 points. New captain King Clancy scored 13 goals to lead the defense. Midway through the season, the Sens traded longtime player Buck Boucher to the Montreal Maroons in exchange for youngster Joe Lamb. Alec Connell was steady in the Senators' net, winning 14 games, and having a GAA of 1.43, along with seven shutouts. The Senators failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1925, as they finished in fourth place in the five-team Canadian Division.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Transactions

The Senators were involved in the following transactions during the 1928–29 season.

Trades

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

The Senators did not qualify for the playoffs.

Sources