NHL Trade Rumors: Senators GM Says Team Is "Open For Business"

The Ottawa Senators are reportedly "open for business" and are expected to be very active during the upcoming NHL Draft on June 28-29 in Las Vegas, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

President of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios is aggressively pursuing several trade options to strengthen the team's roster. 

Among the primary targets is Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, although the high asking price and Ullmark's potential no-trade list could pose challenges. 

Sens fans every time they see another report about Linus Ullmark being open to come play for the Ottawa Senators #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/nDxhzj1caZ

— OTT & Bothered (@OTTandBothered) June 20, 2024

The Senators have also shown interest in other goaltending options, including Juuse Saros from the Nashville Predators and John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks, as they seek to address their goaltending struggles from last season.

In addition to their goaltending pursuits, the Senators are looking to shake up their defensive lineup. 

Defensemen Jakob Chychrun, Erik Brannstrom, and Jacob Bernard-Docker are all potentially on the move, with veteran Travis Hamonic possibly being bought out due to his no-movement clause, as noted by Garrioch.

At least eight teams have expressed serious interest in Zegras, including the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames & Buffalo Sabres.

Per @TheFourthPeriod

— Anthony DiGrazio (@AntDiGrazio) June 24, 2024

The Senators are also exploring options to offload winger Mathieu Joseph to create cap space, potentially paving the way for a deal involving Seattle Kraken winger Brandon Tanev. Center Mark Kastelic is another player who could be traded if the right offer arises, as the team aims to optimize its roster composition.

With the Senators holding the No. 7 and No. 25 overall picks in the draft, Staios is considering trading back from the No. 7 spot to acquire immediate help and maximize the value of the No. 25 pick, league executives say according to Garrioch.

The Senators' proactive approach and various trade discussions indicate that they are determined to improve their roster significantly for next season.

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports