The 1996–97 Ottawa Senators season was the fifth season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). This season saw great improvement by the club, as the team finished out of last place in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the first time in team history, and went on to qualify for the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
The 1996–97 Ottawa Senators season was the fifth season of the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL). This season witnessed significant progress by the club, as the team finished outside last place in the NHL for the first time in its history, and proceeded to qualify for the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.