The presence of a rival general manager at an opponent's game is always a signal worth decoding in the NHL. The intrigue reached a new level on Monday night when Steve Staios, the president and general manager of the Ottawa Senators, was confirmed to be in attendance at the Bell Centre in Montreal. His mission? To watch the Vancouver Canucks take on the Montreal Canadiens.
A Curious Scouting Mission
This was no casual viewing. The Senators were scheduled to host those very same Canucks in Ottawa just 24 hours later, on Tuesday night. The unusual timing of Staios's trip immediately raised eyebrows across the league. Why travel to see a team you're about to face at home, unless you're evaluating specific talent for a purpose beyond one game?
The speculation found a concrete foundation hours before the Ottawa-Vancouver matchup. Reports from Ottawa, including from journalist Bruce Garrioch, indicated the Senators are actively seeking a right-shot defenceman to potentially pair with top blueliners Thomas Chabot or Jake Sanderson. Coincidentally, the Canucks have publicly acknowledged a willingness to listen on trade talks and have several right-shot defenders on their roster.
Is Filip Hronek the Trade Target?
While Vancouver has options, the trade conversation quickly zeroes in on Filip Hronek. The 27-year-old rearguard signed a significant contract extension with Vancouver in the summer of 2024, a deal that still has six seasons remaining after the current 2025-26 campaign. However, as one league source suggested, a move is conceivable given the Canucks' stated shift towards a younger roster under president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.
Any deal involving Hronek would be complex. He holds a full no-movement clause, giving him complete control over his destination. Furthermore, the Senators would need to present a compelling offer. Ottawa currently lacks its first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and their prospect pool is not considered deep in elite, can't-miss talent.
The possibility of a roster player being included exists. Ottawa boasts young centres like Tim Stützle, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto, but Stützle is viewed as untouchable, and Cozens' value has plateaued in the eyes of some scouts. Pinto profiles as a reliable third-line centre, which may not be enough to anchor a major deal.
Other Canucks Defencemen in the Mix
Hronek is not the only name, but others seem less likely. Veteran Tyler Myers also has a no-trade clause and is believed to be settled with his family in Vancouver, making a move to the east coast, even to reunite with former coach Travis Green, improbable. Top prospect Tom Willander, drafted in 2023, is considered a cornerstone of the Canucks' future and is almost certainly off the table.
While the logistics of a Hronek-to-Ottawa trade are challenging, the simple fact of Staios's scouting mission fuels the fire. It may have been a coincidence, or perhaps he has a fondness for Montreal's famous arena hot dogs. Yet, in the context of two teams with clear, complementary needs—one seeking a top-four right-shot defender, the other openly evaluating its roster—the sighting makes undeniable hockey sense. The situation remains fluid, but all eyes are now on the communication lines between Vancouver and Ottawa.
