There is no need for Steve Staios to make any rash decisions regarding the Ottawa Senators roster at this time.

Only four games remain before the National Hockey League break and the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina, Italy. The talk in league circles is that the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager is keeping his options open.

League executives say that Staios has been scouring the market for a top-four defenceman and a top-six forward with the Senators trying to get back into the playoff race in the Eastern Conference as they prepare to play host to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

Sitting 10 points out of the final wild-card spot in the East, it would be easy to say that Staios should throw in the towel and start selling off assets before the NHL’s trade deadline on March 6, but there is no reason to make that decision right now.

Instead, after back-to-back wins over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday (7-1) and the Colorado Avalanche (5-2) on Wednesday, the best bet is for Staios and the Senators to at least head into the Olympic break before determining the next step.

The clock is ticking with only 29 games remaining, and four teams separating the Senators from a playoff spot. With a three-week break before teams return to action, that will buy Staios and the Senators time to determine a direction.

Buyers or sellers?

Many felt the Olympic break would serve as a deadline because there is a CBA-mandated roster freeze from Feb. 4 to Feb. 22. That hasn’t been the case, as teams don’t want to carry the money on their salary cap during the break and don’t need to make any big decisions.

“Teams have three weeks during the Olympics to take stock of where they’re at,” a league executive told the Ottawa Citizen on Friday. “I do think we’re going to see a flurry of moves after the break.”

We’ve been told that Staios has been actively working the phones, but he still has confidence in this roster. Goaltending has been the club’s biggest issue, and Linus Ullmark is closing on a return from his personal leave of absence, while veteran James Reimer has been solid.

The New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues are among the sellers. The Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators are sitting on the fence because they still feel like they’ve got a shot.

The Citizen has reported that we believe the Senators have held talks with the Flames regarding right-shot defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, and may have also kicked tires on forward Blake Coleman.

Weegar has a full “no-move” clause, and there is heavy interest in both players, but he fits the bill on the right side in the club’s top four. He’s from Ottawa, and he could help the Senators.

We believe the Senators have also had talks with the Canucks on various players, including Kiefer Sherwood, before he was traded to the San Jose Sharks. The club may have some level of interest in forwards Conor Garland and Jake DeBrusk.

Even if Staois does decide to make moves, it’s not like the roster needs wholesale changes.

Need players with term remaining on contract

That’s why, even if the club moves some of its unrestricted free agents, it would make sense to acquire a player or two who has term left on their contract because getting back to the playoffs next year is hardly out of the question.

“They’d be smart to bring back players that can help them for the next few seasons,” a league insider said. “They’ve got a good team. That game against Colorado was impressive.”

If the Senators are completely out of the race, then of course, Staios will have to consider moving the club’s UFAs to see if he can get something in return if there is no plan to bring them back next season.

Veterans Claude Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, Nick Jensen and Nick Cousins are all on expiring contracts. Out of that group, you could see most of them back next year, maybe except for Jensen.

The focus for the Senators is trying to somehow find a way to close the gap for a playoff spot before the break. Coach Travis Green told reporters after Wednesday’s game that his club should have a better record. No one would argue with him on that point.

“I feel there’s some confidence in our room. You can’t manufacture confidence. People talk a lot about it in the NHL, and the best way to get it is to win,” Green said on Friday.

“But we’ve got to reset and do it again. It’s pretty simple, we played a good game last game and a good game the game before. Got a couple wins, now got to go get another one.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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