As we head into the Christmas break, why not drop another edition of NHL Rumours, for the Ottawa Senators. Even though this is a traditional rumours edition, we will use it to discuss the bigger picture in the Canadian national capital. The Christmas break is a natural reset within the grueling NHL schedule. So these rumours will include some reference to the Sens expectations, as a whole. Let’s discuss the specific rumour and then provide our collective analysis.

NHL Rumours and Targets for the Ottawa Senators in 2026

Rumour: Bruce Garrioch at the intermission of a recent game on TSN5, discussed the possibility of seeking out scoring help, from the Pittsbrugh Penguins, in the form of Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.

Analysis: A similar idea has been circulating for Ottawa for a while now. As general manager Steve Staios knows, the team has been seeking out upgrades, it is more about where they need it. 

The age old debate has been carrying on, who couldn’t use more top-six scoring? Really, this has been a point of discussion that has been magnified under the scope of the salary cap-era. For all teams. Well, when it comes to Stanley Cup contention, Ottawa is close. This is a season that might be considered an anomaly, as the Stanley Cup Playoff race is very tight as we approach the New Year.

NHL Rumours Ottawa Senators Edition and the Plan

When Thomas Chabot went down with injury, the thinking in the dressing room focused on that aspect. The Sens only really had two true left-shot, NHL-calibre defencemen. You could argue Dennis Gilbert or shifting a right-shot guy, which they did ultimately decide on, but the fact remains that they could use some depth. The bigger picture here, is that the Sens, as an organization are accountable. Staios and crew do nothing with the panic button in their hand. Every move is cold, calculated, like a deli-style Subway sandwich on a Sunday in Stittsville.

One perspective to consider, is the the projected trade deadline cap space availability. According to PuckPedia, the Sens are sitting at $10.4 million. Aleksander Barkov makes $10M and Rasmus Dahlin is at $11M, so somewhere between there, if the stars so align. We are not saying those players are available, but that’s the talent the Sens lineup could add. It would be addition by subtraction, but we digress. Anybody could be in play, depending on who Ottawa is willing to give up. It is similar to the Joshua Norris and Dylan Cozens scenario from a year ago.

Ottawa and the Eastern Conference Playoff Race

An NHL season is a very delicate thing, as witness by the tightness of the Eastern Conference standings right now. The Carolina Hurricanes hold on to the top seed with 47 points, the Detroit Red Wings are second at 45, and the other 14 teams are separated by just nine points, some being all the way 38 games in. The point is, the buyers and the sellers are not well defined. The thinking is that because Pittsburgh is older, that they will be sellers, eventually. It is for the future after all, despite the delicate balance of being competitive for the GOATs, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the blueliners.

So, the point is that the Sens could need a boost anywhere. They could use a forward, a defenceman, whatever their current progress so dictates. Other forwards we had previous discussed would have been Alex Tuch or Andrei Svechnikov. Heck, Malkin’s name as even been discussed this year. On defence, we think Rasmus Andersson would be an obvious front-runner. However, it could have to do more so with what teams are sellers. The Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks have fit that designation at various points, thus far through the still young 2025-26 season.

We will end on one very debatable perspective. With the parody that exists in the East, this is a year to go for it. Ottawa is in a perfect position to do that, given the growth of their roster core. Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson, three of their top guns, are still young. In some sense, there is no rush. But on the other hand, the grand prize might be there for the taking. Will they take the leap, or is this another year of…building for the future. Let’s go!

Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images