A couple of team needs for the Ottawa Senators heading into the NHL trade deadline
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston and Julian McKenzie talking about the Ottawa Senators about their two team needs, a top-four right-handed defenseman and a depth winger.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
McKenzie: “Jimmy has a Senator’s question for you, if that’s okay, since we…”
Johnston: “I don’t get an option, man, you just ask them. I answer him as best I can.”
McKenzie: “Since we all know Ottawa Senators, GM Steve Staios has been studying, evaluating, monitoring, keeping a close eye on the market. Could you clarify who or what he’s been mulling over so seriously and how he hopes to improve his roster, please? He added a please to this question.”
Johnston. “What’s your answer to that? I mean, you’re much closer.”
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McKenzie: “I think they’re, I, look, I think they need a right shot defenseman for that top four. So it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s who they were targeting. They could probably use another depth winger for scoring. Those have been like the two biggest things that this team is needed for on that front.”
Johnston: “Problem with the right shot defenseman, when I’m not ruling them out, but that’s an expensive acquisition, usually. right?”
McKenzie: ” Absolutely.”
Johnston: “I mean, we’ve, we’ve talked in these parts, where I live here in Toronto, about and the Leafs and overpaying for Brandon Carlo. Well, what was Brandon Carlo? A right-shot defenseman who had two years beyond that on his contract. That’s what made him so appealing to the Leafs. They gave up a first-round pick that could become pretty high pick this year and Fraser Minten. So you know, the early scoring of that trade does not look good from Leafs end.
But the part of the reason they got there, in terms of what they gave up, is that it’s, it’s hard to get right shot D’s and make a difference. So, you know, be interesting to see if Ottawa can get that done. Obviously, they don’t own the first-round pick in 2026.
Now, nothing to say you can’t trade the first in 2027, especially if you’re getting a player, maybe that’s going to be around for a little while. It’s not just a rental situation.
But you know, I’m not going to sit here and apologize for the GMs, but I do think it’s a tough league at times to make deals in. And, you know, Steve Staios, I think he probably feels pretty good about that Cozens move he made at last year’s deadline. That one wasn’t widely rumored either. So maybe, maybe all this time that, that you’re getting growing frustrated, you know, he’s working on something a little bigger to drop before March 6th.”
McKenzie: “I think just, just like last year, he’s probably working in stealth mode, but yeah, this year will be a bit of a challenge. Since you don’t have the first-round pick coming this summer and not too many assets. It seems like you either have or want to move, like it’s been said throughout the year that Carter Yaremchuk, their top prospect, probably isn’t going to be available in these trades.
So, I mean, this could change, but I’d be surprised if they ended up going big game hunting, if they’re not going to move, probably their best asset that they have right now.”
Johnston “Do you think they go get a goalie by any chance, or has that ship sailed?”
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McKenzie: “I mean, you’d think with what they have right now, that should be okay.”
Johnston: “Right.”
McKenzie: “I don’t know if, I mean, Linus Ullmark, I mean, he didn’t play the last game against Philadelphia, but presumably coming out of the break, you’re looking at Ullmark and (James) Reimer as your tandem.”
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