The Ottawa Senators want to upgrade their defence
Irf Gaffar and Dave Pagnotta on the DFO Rundown Insider Edition discussed the Ottawa Senators’ interest in adding a right-shot defenseman and the possibility of moving on from recently acquired defenseman Jordan Spence.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Irf Gaffar: “David, let’s go to the Ottawa Senators. There’s a lot there to unpack, and I’m sure people will, and I’m sure we’re going to talk about it this weekend, and things continue to go on, we’re talking their need for a defenseman. A right-shot defenseman, preferably. I’ve heard that the Ottawa Senators wouldn’t have a problem moving Jordan Spence.”
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Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, they’ve been a little disappointed this season in his performance. I know L.A. Kings are screaming that they let him go for a draft pick. But it hasn’t really worked out in Ottawa, and he was somebody that they were listening on, or at least exploring ahead of the deadline. You’re right, they want to upgrade that right side.
They want to bring in a top-four right now. A one-two kind of on that right side defenseman on that team that has his mobile, versatile, but also has a bit of physicality to his game. But that seems to be a priority for the Ottawa Senators this offseason, and Steve Staios.
They also want to bring in a top-six forward to their mix, but it seems like the blue line is a priority for the Sens.”
Senators Needed a Defenseman at the Deadline
The Ottawa Senators were looking to upgrade their defense at the NHL Trade Deadline. Ottawa needed defensive help for most of the season. As Julian McKenzie of The Athletic stated on Full Press Hockey Podcast, outside of Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, and Thomas Chabot, it was a rotation through the four, five, and six slots.
McKenzie: “There were some issues on defence, where I look at this team’s defensive corps now, and Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, and Thomas Chabot. I don’t think you have to worry about them as a top three, but four, five, and six, there’s this kind of in and out situation where you have Jordan Spence and Nick Jensen taking turns on that second pairing, and Nikolas Matinpalo, who’s an Olympian, is kind of in and out of the lineup, and Tyler Kleven, who’s your number five. Who I think he’s had some moments where he’s been okay, but I think more was probably expected from him in terms of taking the jump.”
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I think one thing that has to be discussed with this team, obviously not to the level of goaltending, but I think the defense could use a little bit of help as well, and we’ll see if they do anything to address that at the deadline.
The Senators never upgraded their defense and it was exploited by the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nick Jensen came off hip resurfacing surgery and wasn’t the player he was from a year ago. He stressed that the number four position and how it needed to be improved.
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