The 2011–12 Ottawa Senators season was the 20th NHL season, (19th season of play) for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It was a rebuilding season for the Senators after turning over a lot of playing personnel and hiring a new head coach. Although the Senators were not expected to make the playoffs, the team qualified eighth. The team lost in the first round to the first-place New York Rangers but took the Rangers to a seventh-game. Three Senators were nominated for NHL awards: Captain Daniel Alfredsson for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Erik Karlsson for the James Norris Trophy and Head Coach Paul MacLean for the Jack Adams Award. The Senators hosted the NHL All-Star Game and its festivities. Alfredsson was named captain of one of the teams and five Senators played i