The Ottawa Senators may have found a potential answer to one of their biggest offseason problems, and it could mean beating the Montreal Canadiens at their own game.
After losing former captain Brady Tkachuk in a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers, Ottawa is facing a major hole in its top six. Now, Senators fans and local analysts are urging general manager Steve Staios to make an aggressive move for one of the NHL’s in-demand young scoring wingers before he ends up strengthening a direct Atlantic Division rival.
Senators Fans Rally for Kirill Marchenko
Ottawa fans see Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko as an ideal fit for the team.
With Brady Tkachuk gone, Ottawa lost a perennial 30-goal scorer and net-front anchor. Marchenko, who registered 27 goals and 67 points in 2025-26 and 31 goals and 74 points in 2024-25, offers the elite finishing capability Ottawa needs to remain high-scoring.
Now, Montreal is widely reported as a leading destination for Marchenko. Allowing the Canadiens to pair Marchenko with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, or Ivan Demidov would significantly strengthen a direct Atlantic Division competitor.
As a result, some Ottawa fans believe Staios should get involved rather than allow Montreal to win the bidding.
Ottawa Senators insider Graeme Nichols kept his reaction short and simple, suggesting that general manager Steve Staios should already be exploring the possibility. “Steve Staios on line one,” Nichols said. Senators writer Alex Adams called the forward a “perfect fit in Ottawa.”
The SENS TALK channel went a step further, arguing that Marchenko could be exactly what the Senators need in their top six. “Steve Staios has to be all over this. Perfect fit for the #Sens, depending if an extension is included/they think they can get one done. Either way, Marchenko is exactly what the doctor ordered for Ottawa’s top six. He’s nasty.”
However, not everyone believes Ottawa should make the move at any cost.
Minor hockey coach Shaun McNevan warned that the Senators should not sacrifice their future without first having a long-term commitment from Marchenko. “Definitely can’t mortgage the future for this guy without an extension.”
Acquiring Marchenko would be about more than simply winning a trade bidding war.
The 26-year-old is entering the final season of his contract, which carries an annual average value of $3.85 million. He will then become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
Any team trading for Marchenko would desire some level of confidence that a long-term extension can be reached.
His agent, Dan Milstein, would also be expected to push for a significant new contract after Marchenko’s back-to-back 25-goal seasons.
Columbus, meanwhile, is reportedly looking for established young NHL talent or high-end prospects rather than a package built entirely around distant draft picks.
That could make the price significant.
Montreal and Utah are reportedly among the teams most heavily involved in the Marchenko sweepstakes, but Ottawa fans clearly believe the Senators should at least explore the possibility.
