When the Senators landed Andre Burakovsky from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2027 sixth-round pick, it was the kind of move that barely dents the ledger but could still matter down the line. Ottawa got a two-time Stanley Cup champion without surrendering anything close to a premium asset, and Steve Staios gave Travis Green another middle-six option in the process.
The real appeal here is the flexibility. Burakovsky is in the final year of his contract, and his $5.5 million cap hit gives Ottawa a little room to work with as the season unfolds.
If he rediscovers his scoring touch and settles into a meaningful role, the Senators have a veteran forward who can help in a playoff push. If he doesn’t, Staios has another path available.
That path could lead straight to the trade deadline.
A player with Burakovsky’s resume should draw attention if he’s producing by March. He has won Stanley Cups with the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche, and he’s appeared in 93 playoff games. For a contender chasing secondary scoring, that kind of experience can make him an easy rental target.
If that happens, Ottawa could flip a sixth-round pick into something far more useful simply by moving Burakovsky before the deadline. And if the Senators’ season goes sideways, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Staios turn him into draft capital rather than let the situation sit.
Of course, the other outcome is just as available. Burakovsky could stay put, earn a larger role and give Ottawa another reason to keep him around beyond this season. The Senators don’t have to decide now, and that’s the best part of the deal.
For a sixth-round pick, Ottawa bought itself options. Burakovsky can score, help in the postseason, maybe even play his way into another contract with the club. Or he can become a deadline chip and get another crack at winning a Stanley Cup with a contender.
In Other News...
Stephen Halliday Is Forcing His Way Into Ottawas Next Big Debate
Stephen Halliday started the 2025-26 season where a lot of young forwards hope to end up, driving play at the top of Bellevilles lineup and waiting for a real NHL opening. The door cracked open when injury pulled Ridly Greig out of Ottawas mix, and Halliday stepped into his debut in mid-November with the kind of poise that quickly made him more than just a temporary fill-in. He ended up getting into 30 NHL games, and even as the Senators worked through the usual growing pains of a rookie center, his possession numbers suggested he was helping tilt the ice in the right direction.
The bigger question now is what Ottawa does with him next. Hallidays game was not spotless, especially on the defensive side, and he was sent back to Belleville in early January before forcing another look with strong play after his recall. For a Senators organization trying to sort out its center depth, that kind of push-and-pull is exactly what makes his case so interesting: he has already shown enough to stay in the conversation, and enough to make the next decision a real one. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Face A Leadership Decision Fans May Not Love
The Senators are back in familiar territory, sorting through a leadership question after the trade of Brady Tkachuk left a major opening at the top of the room. Thomas Chabot and Claude Giroux are among the alternate captains whose names make sense on paper, while Jake Sanderson and Tim Stutzle have also been part of the conversation as Ottawa looks for the right voice to carry the group forward.
There is a larger wrinkle, though, as the club weighs whether this is even the right moment to rush into naming a successor. Ottawa has used the no-captain route before during rebuilding years, and that possibility lingers as the organization tries to balance symbolism with patience. Drake Bathersons name has surfaced as part of the broader discussion, adding another layer to a decision that could shape the tone of the next season long before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]
Senators May Have Found The Line Zetterlund And Stutzle Needed
After the Senators moved on from captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida, the front office wasted little time trying to reshape the attack, bringing in William Eklund as part of the next wave of forward help. For Ottawa, the appeal is obvious: Eklund already has a track record of understanding Fabian Zetterlunds game from their time together in San Jose, and that kind of built-in chemistry can matter when a team is searching for cleaner entries, better puck support and more finish around the net.
The more interesting wrinkle is where Tim Sttzle fits into the picture. Ottawa has spent plenty of time looking for a line that can give Sttzle the kind of consistent winger help that turns his skill into sustained pressure, and Eklunds arrival gives the Senators a new option to try. If the fit comes together, it could quietly become one of the more important offensive developments in Ottawas season. [Read more 🡒]