Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer anticipates a hot trade market this summer across the National Hockey League, as he spoke publicly for the first time since his team was swept in the playoffs. He also provided an update on plans for a new downtown arena at LeBreton Flats.
Speaking with reporters at the Canadian Golf & Country Club on Friday morning ahead of the Senators' annual alumni charity golf tournament, Andlauer shared his thoughts on what could unfold around the league this off-season.
“It doesn’t look like it’s a really big free-agent market this year,” he said. “So maybe people will overpay, but I think there’s going to be a lot of things going on because there’s not enough free agents. I think people are going to want to do trades and all, and the fact that the cap is going up, I think there’s going to be people going to look at that as an opportunity.”
The league-wide salary cap will rise to $104 million for the 2026-27 season, an increase of over $8 million from the previous season. Projected growth continues beyond next year, with the cap expected to reach $113.5 million in 2027-28. When asked whether general manager Steve Staios will be authorized to spend aggressively, Andlauer responded, “It’s difficult, but this is a passion of mine. This year we spent; our cash over cap was higher. So whatever it’s going to take to bring a cup to Ottawa.”
After failing to win a playoff game this spring, being swept in Round 1 by the Eastern Conference-champion Carolina Hurricanes, it became evident that the Senators still need additional pieces, development, and maturity to become a Stanley Cup contender. Since their early exit, the search for a scoring winger to play alongside star centre Tim Stutzle has dominated off-season discussions among fans and analysts.
While Andlauer’s persistence with league officials paid off in recouping the franchise’s 2026 first-round draft pick, selecting 32nd overall will not immediately improve the big club for training camp. Andlauer deferred to Staios when asked about the team’s aggressiveness in free agency and the trade market. “We’re staying the course and there’s nothing urgent,” he said, “but also I think there’s areas that (Staios) wants to improve on, and he’s focused on those things. Steve’s always working… He’s probably the hardest working Senator in our hockey club.”
Regarding the LeBreton Flats arena project, ten months after the Senators and National Capital Commission announced an agreement for the purchase and sale of land, Andlauer confirmed Friday that the process remains in the planning phase. The organization and its stakeholders have spent “millions of dollars” in preparation, collaborating with sports stadium designer Populous Holdings, PCL Construction, and design and consulting company Stantec.
