Ottawa Senators Facing Crucial Stretch Before Trade Deadline Decisions
The clock is ticking in Ottawa. With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, the Senators find themselves at a crossroads-and the next seven to ten games could decide which direction they take.
General Manager Steve Staios was spotted scouting the Canucks-Canadiens matchup earlier this week in Montreal, a clear signal that the front office is actively evaluating potential trade targets. One name that’s surfaced in connection to Ottawa?
Kiefer Sherwood, a pending UFA with the Vancouver Canucks. Sherwood brings energy and versatility, and he could be a fit-but only if the Senators can claw their way back into the playoff picture.
That’s the key. Before Staios makes any aggressive moves, this team needs to prove it’s worth investing in.
Right now, the trade market is in a bit of a holding pattern. With so much parity across the league, very few teams are ready to wave the white flag.
That’s made it tough for buyers to find dance partners. In the West, only the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks are clearly out of the race.
Everyone else is still hanging around, waiting to see how the next few weeks unfold.
What we’re seeing is a soft deadline forming around the Olympic break. Teams are telling each other, “If we decide to sell, we’ll let you know closer to then.”
That’s created a bit of a logjam. There’s interest, there’s need-but there’s not a lot of action just yet.
And with so few sellers, prices are steep. Just look at the Canadiens and Blue Jackets, who acted early before the Holiday Roster Freeze to land Phillip Danault and Mason Marchment.
They paid fair value, but it wasn’t cheap. That’s the reality for teams like the Maple Leafs, Devils, Oilers, and Kings-clubs that have to make the playoffs and know they might need to overpay to get the right piece.
The Minnesota Wild, for example, are actively looking for a second-line center. They’re not alone.
As the deadline nears, more teams are expected to join the seller’s side of the ledger. The Flames, Blues, Predators, Blue Jackets, and Rangers have already had conversations with teams looking to buy.
For Ottawa, though, it all comes back to these next few games. The Senators have talent.
They’ve shown flashes. But if they want to be buyers-if they want to add a Sherwood or someone like him-they need to string together wins and make a real push.
Otherwise, they may find themselves on the other side of the equation, looking to offload assets and regroup for the future.
The decision window is narrow, and the stakes are high. It’s time for the Senators to show who they really are.