The Ottawa Senators have stepped up their efforts to find help for their banged-up blueline.
As the Senators closed out a four-game homestand with a contest against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, we were hearing the Senators had been scouring the National Hockey League looking for depth on defence.
With veteran Thomas Chabot out for at least two weeks with a muscle ailment from a game last Tuesday, the Senators’ lack of depth on the left side has been exposed. The club also lost defenceman Donovan Sebrango on waivers to the Florida Panthers in October.
NHL executives confirmed to Postmedia on Saturday that Steve Staios, the Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, had been working the phones to study options for available blueliners.
The Senators aren’t looking for someone who can play in their top six; at this point, they’d be happy to find a left-shot defenceman who could help their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville and would also be available for call-up to the NHL in case of injuries.
Staios was telling other teams that he’d just like some depth.
“If you ask every other general manager, you’re always wanting to expand your depth on the left side,” he had said last Monday.
Another NHL executive told Postmedia that the trade market was thin.
“It still feels like it’s a little early,” an executive said.
The Calgary Flames are expected to move veteran Rasmus Andersson, but he’s a right shot, and last season the Senators went down the road of trying to deal for him without success
Defenceman Ville Heinola, selected No. 20 overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 draft, could also be an option. He is with Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, and told reporters in October that he wouldn’t mind a fresh start after clearing waivers so he could be sent down to the minors.
The Senators don’t really have an option to call up from Belleville, which currently has left-side defenders Jorian Donovan, Tomas Hamara and Matthew Andonovski under contract. Veteran Scott Harrington would be a possibility, but he’s on an AHL contract and would need to be signed to an NHL deal.
The Senators have also been trying to deal unsigned restricted free-agent defenceman Max Guenette since the summer. Though Staios has insisted he only wants a draft pick in return for Guenette, that could be a chip the Senators use to get depth for Belleville and the organization.
It wasn’t clear whether the Senators even made a claim, but the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up veteran defenceman Troy Stecher on waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday to help their own struggling blue-line.
An NHL observer suggested that the Leafs may have made that claim to keep Stecher, 31, who suited up for six games in Edmonton this season, from being picked up by the Senators or Montreal Canadiens. All three teams require help on defence.
The Senators would have at least studied the option of picking up Stecher, though, because he played some of the best hockey of his career when current Senators head coach Travis Green was behind the bench of the Vancouver Canucks.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Nick Jensen, right, in action against the Boston Bruins in the first period of a game on Thursday night. Jensen left the game after the second period following a hard hit from Boston centre Mark Kastelic.
Ottawa dodged one bullet when veteran defenceman Nick Jensen was able to suit up against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. He left Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins after the second period following a hit from former Senators centre Mark Kastelic.
Jensen took part in an optional skate on Friday and the morning skate on Saturday.
The matchup against the Kings was the Senators’ final home game until Dec. 4, when the New York Rangers come to town. They will head to California next week to face the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday at the start of a seven-game, 15-day road trip that will wrap up Dec. 2 against the Canadiens.
Chabot may make the trip, but likely won’t be available until the Senators face the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 26. That would mean Staios and Green would likely have to make a recall from Belleville.
Lassi Thomson, a right-shot defenceman, would seem to be the top option for a recall if the Senators determine that Carter Yakemchuk, their top draft pick in 2024, should keep getting valuable playing time with Belleville.
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