The Ottawa Senators have spent the summer searching for answers in the wake of Brady Tkachuk’s departure, and the question hanging over the roster has been simple: who replaces that kind of goal production?
That concern only grew when the franchise-altering trade with the Florida Panthers brought back picks but no roster players. In a league where scoring wingers are tough to find and even tougher to keep, Ottawa’s need for someone who can finish is obvious.
Over the past decade, only two Senators wingers have reached the 30-goal mark in a season. Drake Batherson did it in 2025-26, and Tkachuk would have had a fourth 30-goal season if not for the torn ligament in his thumb in the home opener.
Two days after Tkachuk’s exit, the mood around the fan base eased a bit when Ottawa landed William Eklund. The 23-year-old Swede brings plenty of skill, even if his career high is 17 goals. But the deal also included another name who may end up mattering in a different way: Kasper Halttunen.
The 19-year-old forward arrived from the San Jose Sharks and quickly understood what Ottawa was hoping for.
“I got the message,” Halttunen told the Ottawa Citizen at rookie camp on Friday. “I think it’s a good opportunity for me.
It’s kind of a good thing to know that that’s what I’m working for. I want to be that guy.
Just trying to give my everything every day, just trying to get better and be that guy one day for the Sens.”
Halttunen has already built a reputation for his shot. Over two seasons with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League, he led the club in playoff goals and scored 32 in 35 games as the Knights won back-to-back championships. Easton Cowan, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2023 first-round pick, scored 23 in those same 35 games.
At rookie camp, Halttunen’s release left an impression on the Senators’ younger players.
“He’s got a bomb,” one rookie said after seeing him let it rip.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Prospects Faced A Chaotic Test Before Camp Cuts
A recent Maple Leafs prospects game offered a rough, revealing look at players fighting for attention before camp cuts, with Ottawa fans getting a familiar face in the building as the management group checked in on the action. Associate coach Daniel Alfredsson was among those watching, and the focus was on a wide mix of forwards and defensive players trying to make a case in a setting that can turn messy in a hurry.
Luke Haymes helped add to the chaos when he finished a rebound created by Blake Smith, one of the cleaner moments in a game that was otherwise more about evaluation than polish. Toronto also held first overall pick Gavin McKenna out of the lineup as a precaution ahead of main camp, leaving the prospects on the ice to sort through the pressure without the biggest name in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
D.J. Smith Suddenly Sits At Center Of An Oilers Story Ottawa Will Watch
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For Senators followers, the part worth watching is D.J. Smiths place in that mix. He has been linked to Edmonton in a prominent associate role, and the Oilers are also working through how best to ease Alex Formenton back into NHL pace after his time in Switzerland. It is the kind of front-office and bench-structure story that can move quickly, but it already has enough Ottawa ties to make it worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]
Ottawa Fans Just Got An Exciting First Look At Their Top Pick
The first real look at Jaxon Cover in a Senators sweater came with plenty of polish and a little drama. Ottawas first-round pick stepped into the Prospect Challenge in Gatineau and made an immediate impression, helping set up the tying goal before finishing with a goal and two assists as the Senators prospects outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects in overtime.
Cover also showed the kind of poise that tends to travel well, especially for a player the organization is hoping can become part of its future core. The final play of the night belonged to him, a fitting exclamation point to a debut that gave Ottawa fans a glimpse of why he was such a notable first-round selection, even if the bigger question is how quickly that promise starts to carry over beyond prospect play. [Read more 🡒]