Senators’ Looking To Upgrade On Nick Jensen

As the NHL returns from the Olympic break and the deadline nears, trade talks are starting to heat up. For the Ottawa Senators, who are six points outside the last wild-card spot — held by one of their divisional rivals, the Boston Bruins– in the Eastern Conference, things could get interesting.

Bruce Garrioch spoke with Callum Fraser of the Ottawa Citizen about the Senators’ plans as they return from the Olympic break. To improve their odds of making the playoffs, the Senators are looking to upgrade the right side of their defence.

Callum Fraser said:

“Obviously this is all about upgrading on Nick Jensen in the Top 4… And Jensen is not going to get you a ton in return… But I wonder about what it’s going to cost them.”

Jensen, 35, is coming off hip surgery in the past offseason and is in the final year of his $4.05 million contract. The contract does not include a trade clause. That gives the Senators some flexibility in where they may trade him. This season, Jensen has 15 Points (4 goals and 11 assists) through 54 games, while being minus-10. On the bright side, contending teams are always looking to acquire veteran defencemen as depth pieces for a playoff run. And, right-side defencemen are especially sought after.

The Senators could then trade Jensen, or the assets obtained by trading him, to acquire a significant upgrade. Perhaps that could include a prospect such as Carter Yakemchuk or Logan Hensler.

Is Weegar the Top 4 Upgrade?

Of note, the Senators are known to be interested in Calgary Flames right-handed defenceman MacKenzie Weegar. The 32-year-old defenceman is currently in the third year of an eight-year contract at a cap hit of $6.25 million. The contract contains a full no-trade clause. There is reason to believe that Weegar would be willing to waive his clause to go to Ottawa; that’s his hometown team.

Weegar has played 56 games this season. In those games, he has contributed 20 points (3 goals, 17 assists) and has been a minus-32 on a Flames team that has had its struggles.

Weegar fits perfectly: veteran experience, offensive upside (he’s been a point-per-game producer at times), physicality, and a contract term that aligns with the Sens’ contention window. The Flames’ asking price is likely steep: a top draft pick (1st or high 2nd) plus a high-end prospect or NHL roster player. That said, Ottawa has the cap space needed to pull this off. They’d just need him to sign off on it.

Could The Senators Give Yakemchuk A Chance Instead

Another option for the Senators is to give their 7th pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft a chance. Carter Yakemchuk performed well in the preseason. At the time, there was a thought that the team might let him play a couple of games to start the season. Now that didn’t happen, and Yakemchuk has been playing for the Belleville Senators of the AHL to gain experience.

This season, he has played 41 games and scored 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists), which is not bad. Yakemchuk, along with two others, was recalled to the Senators following the Olympic Break. So there is a real possibility that he will be given a chance to prove himself at the NHL level.

Next: February 24th NHL Trade Talk Round Up