After the trade frenzy has been rolling for a few weeks now, just who is left for the Ottawa Senators ahead of the 2025 deadline? Let’s summarize who is available and analyze just how could they potentially be a fit.
Ottawa Senators Trade Deadline Rumours from the Main Man
The 2025 NHL Trade Deadline from Ottawa Senators Perspective
One of the front runners is Ryan Donato. The Chicago Blackhawks centre is a force at even strength and would add a goal scorer to the Sens lineup. Moreover, goal scoring is something the Sens have struggled with this year, and those intangibles would be great to add. Donato has 19 5v5 goals this year and 22 overall. That is a career-high for him, along with his 45 points in just 59 games thus far. Donato is on an expiring contract that sees him make $2 million a year.
Another player that could interest the Sens, is Scott Laughton. The Philadelphia Flyer was a target for the club last year. Furthermore, he is worth a little more than Donato, at $3 million per year, but is signed through next season. However, like Donato, both are reliable players. Laughton is up to 27 points on the year and his a very responsible two-way centre. He offers lots of intangibles that the Sens would love to add this time of year. You know, if the price is right.
Ottawa Senators have lots of moving parts with trade deadline on deck https://t.co/lB3e9vx6IS via @ottawacitizen
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) March 5, 2025
Peering into the Deep and the Seattle Kraken
With the sizeable trade today, Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand are off the trade board. Also, Michael Eyssimont for that matter. But, that did signify that general manager Ron Francis and the Seattle Kraken are open for business. Brandon Tanev and Jared McCann are both options that are still on the table. Tanev makes $3.5 million and is an unrestricted free agent in the summer. In contrast, there are rumours the Francis is willing to take a hit on that salary, up to 50%. Even though he doesn’t really add scoring, he is very hard to play against and is responsible.
Jared McCann, on the other hand, brings a bit of offensive punch and is 28 years old. He has 44 points in 62 games this year. However, Sens general manager Steve Staios would have to get creative here. McCann is on the books for $5 million per season, and is signed until the summer of 2027.
Some More External Options
The other names that are out there, seem to be tough pulls. Conversely, landing them, and without a major lineup subtraction, could be a game changer. Defenceman Brandon Carlo as well as forwards Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka are all potential targets for Staios and staff. However, the price would be great. The Sens cannot afford to have any major lineup subtractions if they want to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference wild card race. Also, it is possible the price is going up and the supply and demand cycle ramps up. If you compare what it took for the New York Rangers to land J.T. Miller, it wasn’t so great. But today, it took the Tampa Bay Lightning giving up two first rounders to land Gourde and Bjorkstrand. So, the hot stove of the deadline is definitely heating up.
Options of Who to Offer for the Ottawa Senators at the 2025 Trade Deadline
There are comments players like Joshua Norris, Drake Batherson, and even perhaps David Perron are available. Logistically, it would also make sense to float Claude Giroux‘s name out there. Giroux is on a $6.5 million expiring contract. However, it is thought that he, along with Perron, like being in the Ottawa area. That is also part of the dilemma with Norris and Batherson. They are seen as part of the Sens organizational core. Therefore, you almost get the sense everyone is on board with giving this core one last run. What could possibly hurt? They got themselves this close and plus they are all really good.
So, does that automatically mean that the Sens can’t add anyone? No. They still have options. There is the problem of them being up against the salary cap and should have around $850K available for the trade deadline as of today. However, that is assuming they are taking advantage of their long-term injury reserve pool. Nick Cousins is the player listed there and makes $800K. Otherwise, they are very tight for money. Tyler Kleven has been diagnosed more of a week-to-week timeframe, so he could potentially slide to LTIR as well.
The Final Pitch
The Sens still do have options. There are players that they could trade to free up space, that aren’t considered part of their core. Jacob Bernard-Docker and Anton Forsberg are those type of guys. The Sens don’t have much in terms of draft picks to give up, unless they live on the edge like GM Julien BriseBois. The Bolts are in the midst of a ten-year span with two first rounders (assuming they don’t trade for any in return by 2027). In contrast, the Sens do have current prospects that they could tack on in a trade. Jan Jenik and Cole Reinhardt might the type of players that could thrive under a different circumstance. Tyler Boucher or Tomas Hamara, or those type of prospects, that still have a reasonable ceiling, could attract the right kind of attention.
But hey, who knows what really goes on behind closed doors, when we consider all the madness that we have seen. Major players have been traded already, and teams are still wanting a final hour upgrade.
Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
