OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators` season has concluded, and the team is now facing a crucial off-season.
General Manager Steve Staios described the 2024-25 campaign as a solid “first step” for the team. However, he acknowledged that the subsequent phase—transforming into a genuine championship contender—represents the most significant challenge.
Let`s delve into the key items that should top Ottawa`s off-season “to-do list”:
Top Priority
There`s room for considerable debate regarding whether Ottawa`s primary objective should be acquiring a top-six winger or a top-four right-shot defenceman.
Here is the case for prioritizing a right-shot defenceman, along with a look at some potential targets.
The Senators were eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that possessed a stronger defensive unit. Should the Senators manage to add a defenceman, either through free agency or a trade, it has the potential to elevate their defensive corps to one of the league`s elite.
Adding to the need for defensive depth, there are concerns that defenceman Nick Jensen might require surgery, which would leave the right side of the blue line with a significant gap. While prospect Carter Yakemchuk could provide a solution in two or three years, his production in junior hockey this past season with the WHL`s Calgary Hitmen was lower compared to his draft year.
It`s true that the Senators ranked 18th in goals scored this season. However, their core group of forwards, excluding veterans Claude Giroux and David Perron, are all under 26 years old. This young core, including players like Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, Drake Batherson, and Fabian Zetterlund, has a clear path for offensive improvement. Conversely, on the right side of the defence, Artem Zub and Nick Jensen are over 30, and while Nikolas Matinpalo earned a new two-year, $1.75-million contract, he may not develop into a top-four defenceman.
So, what avenues are available?
In free agency, Aaron Ekblad stands out as a prominent name. The 29-year-old, a product of the Barrie Colts, is known for his size, physicality, and winning pedigree. The Senators have $17 million in cap space, and while signing Ekblad would likely consume half of that, the prospect of defensive pairings like Jake Sanderson-Ekblad and Thomas Chabot-Zub is enticing. Paying a premium seems justifiable.
Unfortunately, the right-shot defenceman market in free agency is relatively weak beyond Ekblad, suggesting a trade may be necessary. Rasmus Andersson, a defenceman for the Calgary Flames with one year remaining on his contract, is a name frequently mentioned in trade rumors. Andersson had a subpar year, but he played through a fractured fibula to finish the season. An extension for Andersson might be an overpayment, but with Stutzle, Sanderson, and Tkachuk on team-friendly contracts, Ottawa has the financial flexibility to consider it.
However, complications arise from the fact that the Senators do not possess their first-round pick this year or next, due to the penalty from the NHL related to the mishandled Evgenii Dadonov trade. Additionally, Calgary is also without its first-rounder this season, and Ottawa appears intent on keeping its own 21st-overall pick, creating significant obstacles for a potential trade involving a high draft pick.
If acquiring a top-four right-shot defenceman proves too difficult, Staios could shift his focus to acquiring a top-six winger, a position where free agency offers multiple options.
Mitch Marner? That would certainly be interesting.
More realistically, Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers should be a prime target for Ottawa. The Senators` lack of offensive dynamism against Toronto was noticeable. Although play was relatively balanced in the “Battle of Ontario” series, Toronto`s star players consistently created opportunities out of nothing, which ultimately made the difference. Ehlers brings flashy puck handling, a strong shot, and could be a potent weapon with his speed playing alongside Tim Stutzle.
