The Ottawa Senators could use another center in the mix this summer, and that need gets even sharper if pending unrestricted free agent Lars Eller lands elsewhere.
One name that makes sense for Ottawa is Joe Veleno. The Montreal Canadiens forward did not receive a qualifying offer, which means he will become a UFA on July 1 unless he re-signs with the Habs before then. If he reaches the market, the Senators should be in the conversation.
Veleno’s offensive numbers were quiet last season in Montreal. He finished with two goals and five points in 61 games.
But the box score does not tell the whole story. He brought energy, played with bite, and was a useful part of the Canadiens’ bottom six, piling up 166 hits.
He also held his own at the faceoff dot, winning 51.6% of his draws.
That profile could fit nicely in Ottawa. Veleno looks like the kind of player who could handle a fourth-line role and also give the Senators another option on the penalty kill thanks to his defensive work.
There is also a reason to view him as a bounce-back candidate rather than just a depth add. In 2023-24 with the Detroit Red Wings, the 2018 first-round pick put up career highs with 12 goals, 16 assists, and 28 points in 80 games.
If Veleno can get back to that level offensively while keeping the same hard-nosed edge, he would be a useful addition for the Senators.
In Other News...
Senators Could Target Two Leafs Fits Fans Never Expected
Ottawa has already done business with Toronto this offseason, bringing in goalie Samuel Ersson for a 2027 fifth-round pick, and the next question is whether the Senators are willing to keep looking north of the border for help. Even without a qualifying offer in hand, Ersson is expected to sign with Ottawa, which only adds to the sense that the Senators are still mining the Maple Leafs for affordable roster fits as they try to round out the lineup.
Two names keep surfacing in that conversation: Nick Robertson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Robertsons scoring touch and Ekman-Larssons veteran impact make for a curious pair of targets, especially for a Senators team searching for players who can slide into the right role without forcing a bigger overhaul, and the appeal is obvious enough that it is worth watching how far Ottawa is willing to push this idea. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Suddenly Have A Toronto Scoring Target Worth Debating
After adding William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky this offseason, the Senators still look like a club that could use more help up front, especially if they want their forward group to feel deeper than just the recent splash moves. One name that makes some sense in that conversation is Matias Maccelli, a Toronto winger whose season offered enough production to keep him on the radar as a possible fit for Ottawa.
Maccellis value for the Senators would come less from star power than from versatility, since he can slide into the middle six and give a coach another option to mix into the second or third line. He also brings the kind of puck-moving skill that tends to travel well in a top-nine role, which is exactly why he is the sort of player Ottawa may have to decide whether to chase before the market gets busy. [Read more 🡒]
Senators May Be Eyeing A Division Swing Fans Will Debate
Theres a local angle to the latest Senators trade chatter that is easy to see why it would resonate. Ottawa has reportedly shown interest in Buffalo forward Jack Quinn, the Ottawa native and former 67s player who has built enough of a profile to be viewed as a possible fit higher up in the lineup. He is entering the final year of his contract and is expected to reach restricted free agency next summer, which only adds to the appeal for a team still sorting out its long-term forward mix.
The Sabres, for their part, are said to be open to moving him if the return helps them address another need, and that is where the talks get more interesting for Ottawa. Buffalo may be looking for a prospect such as Logan Hensler, a right-shot defenceman from its 2025 draft class, as it tries to strengthen a thin defensive pipeline. It is the kind of framework that can make sense on paper, even if the real challenge is finding the exact price that works for both sides. [Read more 🡒]