The Ottawa Senators have been riding an uneven stretch this season. If that trend continues, the Senators could find themselves on the outside of the playoff race. To strengthen their roster, the team has been exploring options to add a forward. But now appears to be having second thoughts about chasing a $36 million player.

Senators Reconsider $36 Million Forward Target

The Senators are coming off an impressive 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. But Ottawa sits third from the bottom in the Atlantic Division with a 16-13-4 record and has dropped six of its last ten games.

Injuries have played a major role in Ottawa’s struggles, with key players like Thomas Chabot (lower body), Lars Eller (broken foot), and Shane Pinto (lower body) all sidelined.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported that Senators general manager Steve Staios has been actively checking in around the league. “We’re led to believe that Staios has touched base with the league’s sellers. That list, which includes the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators, is short,” Garrioch wrote.

One name that has surfaced is Vancouver Canucks forward Connor Garland, who is set to begin a six-year, $36 million contract extension next season. “Connor Garland isn’t expected to be moved, but we’ve been told that if the Canucks were interested in dealing him, then that is a player that Ottawa coach Travis Green holds in high regard,” Garrioch noted.

That interest comes with complications. Garland’s long-term extension kicks in next season, and a full no-move clause also takes effect at the same time, meaning any deal would need to happen before then. While Garland has produced 19 points in 27 games this season, the financial commitment and trade protection make a move highly unlikely.

Ottawa has also been linked to another Vancouver forward, Kiefer Sherwood. “League executives say the Senators are among a group of teams likely that have kicked tires on Vancouver’s Kiefer Sherwood. And is on the radar screen of several teams in the East,” Garrioch reported.

Still, the competition for Sherwood is stiff. Teams like the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and Philadelphia Flyers have all been connected to him. Additionally, Ottawa faces another obstacle: the Canucks reportedly want a first-round pick in return for Sherwood. And Ottawa is already set to forfeit its top selection in the 2026 first-round selection as part of the Evgenii Dadonov trade penalty.

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For now, the Senators shift their focus back to the ice as they prepare to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.