Trade Deadline Preview: Ottawa Senators
The NHL trade deadline is always a whirlwind of rumors, speculation, and blockbuster deals. For the Ottawa Senators, this year’s deadline is shaping up to be particularly intriguing. The Senators haven’t made the playoffs since 2017 and will likely opt to be a buyer at the deadline as they try to break their playoff drought, but according to recent reports, the Senators are in a fascinating position as they weigh their options. Let’s break it all down.
The Senators’ Current Situation
The Ottawa Senators face significant challenges in their quest for playoff contention, hampered by poor drafting and asset management. Ranked 27th in NHL prospect pools and missing a first-round pick in one of the next two drafts due to the Dadonov penalty, Ottawa’s future looks uncertain.
However, their young core that includes stars like Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, and Jake Sanderson is locked into long-term deals, and new management offers hope for rebuilding the farm system.
Trade Chips
The Senators struck gold in the 2018 Erik Karlsson trade with San Jose, landing the third overall pick in 2020, which became Tim Stützle, as well as center Josh Norris and other assets like Dylan DeMelo.
Stützle has blossomed into a star, and Norris has shown promise when healthy, averaging 31 goals per 82 games. However, injuries have plagued Norris, who has played over 60 games just once (2021-22) and missed 106 games between 2022 and 2024. With a $7.95M cap hit and Shane Pinto waiting in the wings, Norris has surfaced in trade rumors, making him a potential candidate to be moved.
Another tradeable piece is backup goalie Anton Forsberg. At 32, Forsberg is in the final year of his $2.75M deal and has been outplayed by rookie Leevi Merilainen.
Veterans like David Perron or Michael Amadio could also be moved, but the tight cap makes summer a better time for such deals. Draft picks are another option, but trading a first-rounder would leave Ottawa without one in consecutive drafts.
Moving a third-round pick or top prospect Carter Yakemchuk is possible, but the latter would further deplete an already thin prospect pool. Mads Søgaard, at 24, holds little trade value.
The Need of the Hour
1. Depth Defensemen: Despite ranking 10th defensively, the Senators need a reliable right-shot defenseman for their third pairing. Travis Hamonic has improved but struggles in possession, while rookie Tyler Kleven shows potential but mirrors Hamonic’s underwhelming numbers.
Ottawa doesn’t need to spend big, but options like Chicago’s Connor Murphy, who has a $4.4 million cap hit would be ideal for this role.
2. Depth Forward: Ottawa’s top-six has been stretched thin, forcing players into roles they’re not suited for. Chocago's Ryan Donato has been linked to the Senators, offering a low cap hit of $2 million and solid production boasting of 19 goals, 18 assists in 53 games).
Alternatively, Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken brings energy, physicality and playoff experience. The 33-year-old has recorded nine goals and eight assists in 55 games this season, surpassing 30 points only once in his career. However, Tanev has been linked to the Senators for his physicality and playoff experience make him a valuable asset in a gritty postseason series, as shown by his 170 hits in 46 career NHL playoff games.
As the trade deadline approaches, Ottawa has several options to bolster its forward depth, but its ability to make moves hinges entirely on freeing up cap space to accommodate new additions. Stay tuned for updates.
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