{"id":433433,"date":"2026-01-29T00:49:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T00:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/433433\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T00:49:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T00:49:27","slug":"ottawa-senators-could-be-facing-a-trade-deadline-dilemma-the-hockey-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/433433\/","title":{"rendered":"Ottawa Senators Could Be Facing a Trade Deadline Dilemma – The Hockey Writers –"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you watched the Ottawa Senators dismantle the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 recently, you saw the blueprint. You saw the speed, the physicality, and the high-end skill that general manager Steve Staios envisions for this group. But if you look at the standings this morning, you see the other side of the coin: a 24-21-7 record<\/a> and a team stuck in the NHL\u2019s most dangerous territory \u2014 the mushy middle.<\/p>\n

We are approaching a critical juncture for the organization. While the front office\u2019s preference is to \u201cstick to the plan\u201d \u2014 which involves adding a top-four defenseman or a top-six forward to bolster a playoff push \u2014 the underlying numbers are screaming caution. MoneyPuck\u2019s latest models give Ottawa just a 21.3% chance of qualifying for the postseason.<\/p>\n

This creates a tension that will define the next six weeks. Staios wants to buy. The room believes they can buy. But unless they go on an immediate, sustained run, the math may force them into the one thing they desperately wanted to avoid: a pivot to asset management.<\/p>\n

The \u201cForced Seller\u201d Reality<\/p>\n

The term circulating around the league right now regarding Ottawa is \u201cforced seller.\u201d<\/a> It\u2019s a limbo state where the GM\u2019s hand is forced not by philosophy, but by probability.<\/p>\n

Related \u2013 Senators Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines \u2013 Wild Card Pressure, Ullmark\u2019s Return, Injuries and More<\/a><\/p>\n

The dilemma is straightforward. If the Senators hit a rough patch between now and March 6, the gap to the wild card will widen to a point where holding on to depreciating assets becomes negligent. The organization is currently towing an invisible line; they are unwilling to sacrifice roster players for draft picks yet, but they are pragmatic enough to know that standing pat with a sub-25% playoff probability is poor management.<\/p>\n

The Rental Market: Veterans on the Block<\/p>\n

If the pivot happens, the first dominoes to fall will be the pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). These are the \u201ceasy\u201d moves \u2014 pure rentals for contenders.<\/p>\n

The biggest name, without question, is Claude Giroux. At 38, he remains a productive, high-IQ player, and his $2 million cap hit is tailor-made for a contender\u2019s books. However, this isn\u2019t a standard trade chip situation. Giroux holds a full no-movement clause (NMC). He controls the entire process. If he decides he wants one last crack at a Stanley Cup, he immediately becomes one of the market\u2019s top targets<\/a>. If he prefers to stay home, he stays.<\/p>\n

\"ClaudeClaude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators digs in for a face-off (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Beyond Giroux, the Senators have a suite of depth veterans who could return mid-round picks. Lars Eller, David Perron, and Nick Cousins all fit the mold of bottom-six insurance that playoff teams covet. On the back end, Nick Jensen offers the kind of right-shot stability that always fetches a return at the deadline.<\/p>\n

The \u201cHockey Trade\u201d Market: Core Shake-Ups<\/p>\n

The more intriguing conversations \u2014 and the ones that would signal a true shift in strategy \u2014 involve players with term remaining. These aren\u2019t just rentals; these are \u201chockey trades\u201d designed to reconfigure the roster\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n

Artem Zub<\/a> is the name generating the most legitimate chatter<\/a>. The right-shot defenseman has one year left at $4.6 million, and crucially, he lacks trade protection. In a market always starved for top-four right-handed defencemen, Zub is a liquid asset. If Staios decides the current defensive mix isn\u2019t working, Zub is the easiest lever to pull to bring back significant value.<\/p>\n

Then there is Drake Batherson. The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly kicked tires here, drawn to his consistent 25-goal potential and his team-friendly $4.975 million contract. However, don\u2019t expect a move just for the sake of it. Staios will not be inclined to move a cost-controlled top-six producer unless the return is substantial \u2014 think a first-round pick and a high-end prospect.<\/p>\n

\"DrakeDrake Batherson, Ottawa Senators (Jess Starr<\/a>\/The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Another name to watch is Fabian Zetterlund<\/a>. A physical middle-six forward with term and a reasonable cap hit, he represents the type of player contenders want not just for a spring run, but for the next few seasons. If Ottawa decides to re-tool the supporting cast around the core, Zetterlund could be moved for assets that align better with the team\u2019s long-term vision.<\/p>\n

The Long Game: The Captain\u2019s Patience<\/p>\n

Looming over all of this is the \u201cSuperstar Factor.\u201d While no one expects Brady Tkachuk to be moved at this deadline, the context of his contract (running through 2027-28) is becoming a talking point.<\/p>\n

Related \u2013 Senators\u2019 Penalty Kill Shakeup Signals a Defining Moment for Their Season<\/a><\/p>\n

Analysts are noting the trend line<\/a>. We are now eight seasons into Tkachuk\u2019s career without consistent team success. While he is the heartbeat of the franchise, the reality of the modern NHL is that prolonged mediocrity eventually leads to friction. If the Senators miss the postseason again, the clock starts ticking a little louder. The fear isn\u2019t an immediate trade request, but the gradual erosion of buy-in that occurs when a prime player spends his best years chasing a playoff spot rather than a Cup.<\/p>\n

Summary of Strategy<\/p>\n

For now, the Senators are in a holding pattern. They are trying to win their way out of the decision. But the March 6 deadline does not care about intentions \u2014 it cares about leverage. If the standings don\u2019t improve rapidly, the market for Ottawa\u2019s veterans and cost-controlled assets like Zub and Batherson will heat up, and Staios will be forced to prioritize the future over the present, yet again.<\/p>\n

AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

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