The Ottawa Senators aren’t waiting around after making the biggest move of their offseason. Just days after parting ways with franchise captain Brady Tkachuk in a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers, attention has already shifted toward what comes next for general manager Steve Staios and the Senators’ front office.
Now, an NHL insider has connected Ottawa to a familiar name, a veteran defenseman carrying a $92 million contract.
Senators Target Familiar $92 Million Blue-Liner
According to NHL insider Bruce Garrioch, the Senators could revisit the possibility of bringing back future Hall of Fame defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has one year remaining on the eight-year, $92 million contract he signed before arriving in Pittsburgh.
Karlsson, who spent nine seasons with the Senators, is still regarded as one of the NHL’s most dynamic offensive defensemen. With Pittsburgh appearing to be entering a new chapter following its first-round playoff exit, moving his contract could help free up valuable cap space and create greater roster flexibility.
From Ottawa’s perspective, the fit is obvious.
The Senators’ first-round sweep at the hands of Carolina highlighted a glaring weakness on the back end. While Jake Sanderson has emerged as one of the NHL’s brightest young defensemen, Ottawa still lacks a true elite puck-moving blueliner capable of controlling the pace of play, driving offense from the blue line, and running a dangerous power play.
“Now that Brady Tkachuk is no longer in the room, a few years ago, the Senators visited a trade for Erik Karlsson. The decision was made that they would not acquire Erik Karlsson from the Pittsburgh Penguins because they felt that that would undermine Brady Tkachuk’s leadership in the dressing room by bringing in a former captain,” Garrioch said.
“Do you maybe go that route now and maybe bring in a guy like Erik? Do you bring him back to finish out his career? There’s a lot of moving parts with this roster right now, but time is of the essence,” he added.
While Garrioch stopped short of predicting a trade, the fact that Karlsson’s name has resurfaced is enough to fuel speculation across Ottawa.
At first glance, absorbing Karlsson’s $11.5 million cap hit appears challenging. However, the Tkachuk trade dramatically changed Ottawa’s financial picture and asset pool, giving Staios far more flexibility than he had just a few weeks ago.
The Senators emerged from the Florida deal with a significant collection of assets, including the No. 9 and No. 25 selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
Staios has already indicated that he has no interest in taking a step backward, and those newly acquired draft picks could quickly become trade chips.
A deal centered around one of Ottawa’s newly acquired first-round selections, particularly the No. 25 pick, could provide Pittsburgh with an attractive return while helping facilitate a Karlsson reunion.
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If a trade were to materialize, it would instantly reshape Ottawa’s blue line.
It would also be a fitting full-circle moment for the franchise, as a reunion with the former captain could help turn the post-Tkachuk era into a successful offseason retool.
