Senators commerce deadline preview: On the sting of going daring at commerce deadline

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators’ playoff likelihood is bettering, however attending to the post-season remains to be going to be a mammoth endeavor. So, does Ottawa stand steadily pat or does it get aggressive? That conundrum is normal supervisor Steve Staios’ riddle to resolve.

The Senators sit 5 factors out of a playoff spot. Groups that know they’ve a shot at making a run within the playoffs normally add power on the deadline, whereas those that have fallen out of the race promote property to construct for the long run. For those who’re within the mushy center, the place a crew would possibly or may not make it, it makes for a perplexing deadline.

If the Senators had been to be daring, they might seemingly not add leases however wouldn’t commerce their leases, both. In one other world, possibly the Senators might attempt promoting off pending unrestricted free brokers reminiscent of Claude Giroux or David Perron, who would have worth for different groups. However the Senators have been bull-headed in pursuing their playoff aspirations and possibly received’t need to harm their playoff odds on the deadline.

An extra complication for the Senators is that they’re staring down one other wasted season of Brady Tkachuk’s prime, which might be a stain on their possibilities to maintain No. 7 within the nation’s capital previous 2028, when his contract expires.

In line with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Senators “suppose they’re higher than their document signifies.”

The crew stills imagine a playoff berth is doable, and Moneypuck.com agrees: their mathematical components states that Ottawa’s playoff odds sit at 45 per cent. However with the Senators sitting 5 factors out, name us barely skeptical.

The Senators’ fingers are additionally tied for dealing property, as they haven’t any first-round decide after being punished for botching the 2021 Evgeni Dadonov commerce, and few prospects of be aware outdoors of Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler. Staios can have restricted flexibility, although that was additionally true final deadline, when he struck a blockbuster Dylan Cozens-for-Josh Norris commerce. Do not be so shocked if a giant commerce occurs however don’t be shocked if it’s a gradual, quiet deadline in Ottawa.

Projected deadline-day cap house: $11.6 million
Contracts: 45/50
Retention slots open: 2/3
Draft picks (through PuckPedia):

The Senators have 4 obvious wants, however foremost they want a greater model of Linus Ullmark or they want goaltending from elsewhere. For those who squint, there are causes to imagine.

The Senators’ rivalry plan must be saved by Ullmark. As Friedman stated, they’re dedicated to Ullmark.

Regardless of the whole lot, goaltending seemingly received’t be addressed on the deadline.

In the meantime, it’s evident that the Senators have a gap of their defensive high 4. The hope is that in the future Yakemchuk and Hensler would be the options. The Senators aren’t about to offer the keys to Yakemchuk this season; possibly subsequent. However with Tkachuk’s contract up in two seasons, the crew may not need to wait. Regardless, with Artem Zub a free agent after subsequent season, if Ottawa desires to be a playoff contender to complete off the season into subsequent, it’ll hold trying to find a top-four right-shot defenceman.

The Senators additionally want one other scoring ahead. The Senators are eleventh in targets per sport, regardless of the third-best shots-for-vs.-against ratio within the league. Each night time, the crew outshoots its opponents however can’t capitalize at a excessive sufficient price as a result of there isn’t a elite sniper to complete off the probabilities they earn.

No present Senator has scored 40 targets, although Tim Stutzle has the potential to be a 40-goal man and he’s on tempo for that this season. In the end, if Staios desires Ottawa to succeed in one other peak, he might want to discover one other bona fide objective scorer.

Carter Yakemchuk: Yakemchuk is the Senators’ finest asset not on their roster, though he seemingly shall be by subsequent season. The crew views him as an Evan Bouchard-type participant. Yakemchuk was main the AHL in rookie scoring earlier than an harm in December set him again. At six-foot-three and 219 kilos, Yakemchuk is a big-body right-shot defenceman with offensive talent, a uncommon mixture in immediately’s NHL. The Senators are very reluctant to commerce Yakemchuk, as they need to be.

But when they had been to go big-game searching to accumulate a star defenceman or ahead, it seemingly would require sending out the 2024 seventh-overall decide.

Ridly Greig: The Senators are flush with NHL centres: Stutzle, Shane Pinto, Cozens and Greig. The Senators are unlikely to commerce Cozens or Pinto, until it’s in a deal for a celebrity. That means, Greig is probably the most expendable centre, regardless of his very helpful always-annoying-in-a-good-way model. Greig might assist Ottawa land an improve in an space of want, possibly for a top-four defenceman. Greig is an impactful two-way participant with commerce worth, however his offensive upside appears restricted in comparison with Cozens and Pinto.

Fabian Zetterlund: Zetterlund was alleged to be impactful; as an alternative, he’s grow to be a fourth-liner making over $4 million a season, whereas scoring 14 targets and 14 assists in 78 video games as a Senator. It’s been a failed experiment. It could be sensible for Ottawa to commerce him at a low level to recoup a middling asset whereas gaining much-needed cap house.

Stephen Halliday: Talking of centres, Halliday has confirmed himself to be a really productive NHL participant, regardless of restricted minutes. At solely 23, Halliday is eighth within the NHL with 2.88 factors per 60 minutes at five-on-five in a minimal 100 minutes performed. Due to Ottawa’s lack of different property, Halliday may very well be a viable piece in a commerce.

Logan Hensler: Hensler was chosen twenty third general in 2025 by the Senators, and with Yakemchuk offers first-round expertise in a system that does not have one other first-rounder in 2026. If Ottawa desires to make a win-now transfer, Hensler is an choice to be expended.

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MacKenzie Weegar: Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reported that Ottawa native Weegar would doubtlessly waive his no-trade clause to return to the Canadian Tire Centre. Weegar is 32, within the midst of a down season with 21 factors in 58 video games on the lowly Calgary Flames. He’s signed till 2030 at a cap hit of $6.25 million a season. He has offensive contact, physicality and management. Buying him at a lower-value level might scale back the price, and final season we witnessed Seth Jones go from misplaced in a nasty atmosphere in Chicago to thriving in Florida on an incredible crew. Ottawa may not have to surrender rather a lot to get a participant who was in rivalry for Crew Canada solely a 12 months in the past as a massively impactful participant. The one draw back is that Weegar is paid handsomely into his mid- to late-30s. Bringing in a great participant who loves Ottawa labored out for Giroux and will for Weegar as effectively.

Robert Thomas: For the Senators to take the following step, they want high-level talent. Thomas is that, with three seasons over a degree per sport underneath his belt. He’s additionally excellent associates with Tkachuk, which wouldn’t harm the re-signing pitch to Ottawa’s captain. Thomas is signed till 2031 at $8.125 million a season. With Ottawa not being very lively in free company, buying a participant with time period can be sensible. It is going to price you a large number, however typically it is higher to overpay for star expertise than sit idle.

Jesper Wallstedt: Ullmark could also be turning it round barely. However, the attention check nonetheless provides grounds for fear. That’s why the Senators might want to deal with the goaltending place ultimately. Ottawa wants a 1A/1B resolution in objective to assist Ullmark. Wallstedt is a younger, upcoming goaltender with a first-round pedigree. Wallstedt has been stable with 0.8 targets saved above anticipated, and is barely 23. Ottawa has given up on too many younger netminders prior to now; possibly it’s time to take a flyer on one as an alternative of booting them out the door like they did with Ben Bishop, Joey Daccord and Filip Gustavsson.

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Zach Whitecloud: Calgary is promoting, and if Ottawa can’t get Weegar as a top-four right-shot defenceman, Whitecloud can be a great comfort prize. Whitecloud has two extra years at a team-friendly $2.75-million cap hit. It could be a major worth for Ottawa however seemingly wouldn’t price Ottawa an arm or a Yakemchuk. Whitecloud doesn’t have a lot offensive pop however is large, rangy and may defend.

Notable mentions: Rasmus Ristolainen, Justin Faulk

Ottawa is a small-market crew, so be aware of the actual {dollars} if it takes on cash in any offers. It’s seemingly the Senators won’t spend to the cap in years to return because the wage cap rises.