The Ottawa Senators may not be done shopping, and Jack Quinn is the kind of name that would make sense if they decide to swing again.
Ottawa has already added William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky, but the roster still looks like it could use another upgrade. That’s where Buffalo comes in. The Sabres are reportedly using Quinn as trade bait, and the 2020 draft pick checks a lot of boxes for the Senators: he’s an Ottawa native, a former Ottawa 67’s standout, and a player who just posted 20 goals and 51 points last season with Buffalo.
Quinn built his reputation on finishing chances with the 67’s, and that scoring touch is what he’s trying to turn into a full-time NHL weapon. He’d also be an intriguing fit with centre Tim Stützle. Quinn can play either wing, and his skating and edge work would help him keep pace with Stützle.
There’s a natural question here, though: why would Buffalo move him now? The answer may be tied to who is making the decisions. Quinn is being shopped by a general manager who didn’t draft him, which adds another layer to the situation.
Buffalo has already moved two defencemen and could be looking to restock its prospect group. One possible framework would involve Logan Hensler, a right-shot defenceman drafted in 2025. He’d give the Sabres a prospect who is considered closer to NHL-ready than many other options around the league.
Quinn is also heading into the second and final season of his two-year deal, meaning he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. A raise is coming, but how big that number gets could depend in part on where he lands and whether he’s skating alongside Stützle.
Ottawa has already shown it’s willing to do business with Buffalo and within the division, most notably when it traded Josh Norris to the Sabres for Dylan Cozens in 2025. If Buffalo is willing to take Ottawa’s call on Quinn, this could be another unexpected move from general manager Steve Staios.
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 🡒]