The Ottawa Senators are entering a new era. After trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, the organization is facing the difficult task of moving forward without one of the most important players in franchise history.
However, General Manager Steve Staios has made it clear that the Senators are not planning to take a step back. Instead, Ottawa appears ready to remain aggressive.
Senators GM Promises More Moves in Post-Brady Tkachuk Chapter
Tkachuk had two years remaining on his contract and indicated that he had no plans to sign an extension beyond that deal.
Rather than wait for the situation to devolve into a standoff, Staios moved quickly, trading Tkachuk to Florida, reuniting him with his brother Matthew. The Senators received a significant package of assets, including two 2026 first-round picks (No. 9 and No. 25 overall).
Staios then continued reshaping the roster. Ottawa moved the No. 9 pick acquired in the Tkachuk trade to land William Eklund and additional prospects. The Senators also added Andre Burakovsky and Samuel Ersson while re-signing several key players.
But Staios suggested the work is not finished. Speaking on TSN 1200, the Senators GM said, “We feel good about the work that we’ve done. There will be a secondary push that we will stay close to.”
That comment suggests Ottawa could still make more moves before the start of the season.
One area Staios appears to be focused on is adding more finishing ability. Ottawa ranked eighth in the NHL in goals scored last season, but Staios believes the roster is missing a true high-volume sniper.
“We were eighth in goals for in the NHL last year,” Staios said. “Do we have a pure sniper? We’d love to add that.”
The Senators already have plenty of offensive talent. Tim Stützle scored 34 goals last season, while Drake Batherson added 33. Dylan Cozens and William Eklund also give Ottawa additional playmaking ability.
The missing piece could be a winger who can consistently finish those chances.
One potential option could be Patrik Laine. The former 40-goal scorer remains one of the most dangerous shooters in the NHL when healthy. Laine has a career shooting percentage of 14.8% and does not necessarily need to dominate possession to make an impact. He simply needs the right setup.
Ottawa could also potentially structure a short-term deal around a lower base salary and performance bonuses, giving Staios a chance to add scoring without committing significant long-term cap space.
With more than $4 million in cap space, Staios still has room to make another move.
Replacing Tkachuk won’t be easy, but Ottawa has no plans to lean into a rebuild. The Senators have added young talents and could still make another major addition.
The Tkachuk era is over, but Ottawa intends to remain competitive.
