Over a week since their team's disheartening early exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Ottawa Senators fans are slowly beginning to pick themselves up off the ground and look ahead to what the offseason holds.
One of the few positives to come out of that 4-0 series sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes is that the Senators have a much clearer picture of what it will take to turn them into a contender.
Stutzle needs another winger
From Brady 6:13, @RedneckSens on X: "Staios needs to beef up the top six. Make a splash by offering up Carter Yakemchuk, Logan Hensler or other pieces."
From Nick Spence, @WhiskeyNick95 on X: "Would you trade Logan Hensler and the 2027 first-round draft pick to acquire a top-six scoring winger?"
It is difficult to observe the Senators' Round 1 series against the Hurricanes and come to any conclusion other than Ottawa's stifled offence being the difference. Goaltender Linus Ullmark was brilliant. The defence was riddled with key injuries.
Coach Travis Green rolled with a first line of Claude Giroux, Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson for the vast majority of the final half of the season, though Brady Tkachuk, Warren Foegele and Fabian Zetterlund each spent some time on the top trio in the post-season.
Giroux, if he decides to play another NHL season, would be a good fit for the bottom six, perhaps on the shutdown line with Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio. Giroux's high hockey IQ and offensive touch could absolutely benefit one of the lower lines for 12-13 minutes a night, but a repeat role on the top trio would be untenable. The 38-year-old looked like he lost a full step in the latter half of the 2025-26 campaign.
It is much, much easier said than done, but adding a speedy scoring threat to Stutzle's left wing would be a massive upgrade.
Regarding potential trade pieces, it would be wild to see the Senators deal Yakemchuk. At 20 years old, he already has the confidence, skill and playmaking ability of an elite NHL defenceman. The defensive side of his game will come — that is teachable, unlike the raw talent he has. Yakemchuk is pretty close to untouchable right now.
Hensler is a promising prospect, but his stock is lower than Ottawa would like right now. He had an underwhelming showing for Team USA at the world juniors over the holidays and then suffered a season-ending lower-body injury in late January.
The Senators do not have a high draft position this year to leverage and their first-round pick is not moveable until the pick becomes a prospect. If the Senators are going to go big game hunting, they are likely going to have to use one or two roster players.
There is no name that sticks out right now, but there could be dominoes to fall this summer.
How much will contract negotiations between the club and Batherson this summer impact the search for a top-six forward? What does that conversation between Staios and Tkachuk mean for the captain's future in Ottawa? Yakemchuk's development could naturally push another NHL defenceman out by October, so would management be willing to part with a prominent blue liner in anticipation of that?
