The Senators have a few different storylines swirling at once, and one of the biggest names in the NHL just added another layer to the chaos. Nikita Kucherov informed the Tampa Bay Lightning last week that he would not re-sign and has requested a trade, a move that would normally shake up the Atlantic Division in a major way.
Meanwhile, Ottawa is still trying to sort out its own roster picture. Defenseman Cameron Crotty was placed on waivers last week to make room for the recalls of Philip Tomasino and Xavier Bourgault from the AHL, and the 27-year-old was claimed by his former team, the Minnesota Wild.
If Carter Yakemchuk, who has been a healthy scratch in the last three games, is sent down, the Senators will need to find another seventh defenseman. That leaves the club weighing options such as Samuel Bolduc, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, or a return to Ben Hutton, who impressed in training camp on a PTO.
There was at least one encouraging note from the ice yesterday. Claude Giroux stood out in an otherwise flat performance against the Anaheim Ducks, finishing with a goal and an assist.
He now has 10 points in 16 games, and by reaching the 10-game threshold a couple of weeks ago, he has already locked in an extra $1.5M in performance bonuses. Another $500k kicks in once he gets to 40 games, and that could matter for GM Steve Staios as he works the trade market.
If Ottawa ends the season with all of its cap space used, Giroux’s bonuses would carry over as dead salary against next season’s cap.
The Senators also unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys along with the rest of the league, and Ottawa will wear its version in nine home games this season. The design features a black and gold home jersey with red highlights, a look that offers a sharper contrast than last season’s red alternate.
And there’s some franchise history on deck, too. In Ian Mendes’ latest column, he noted that several members of the 2007 team that reached the franchise’s only Stanley Cup Final 20 years ago - including Mike Fisher, Peter Schaefer, Dean McAmmond, and Ring of Honour inductee Wade Redden - will be honored at Saturday’s home game against Utah. Around the same time, a Sens-Leafs alumni game is set for Peterborough, where Craig Anderson will take the crease with a microphone.
In Other News...
Senators Downtown Arena Vision Is Finally Starting To Take Shape
A long-discussed downtown arena for the Senators is beginning to look less like a concept and more like a project with real contours. The National Capital Commission has now sketched out what a potential building in the Aqueduct District of LeBreton Flats could look like, placing it near the Canadian War Museum and tying it to a larger mixed-use development with homes, businesses and rapid transit access.
The club has been working with architects on the design, and the next public step is expected in early 2027 when more details are set to be unveiled. For a franchise that has spent years talking about a downtown home, the latest planning work suggests the vision is finally moving from broad ambition into something Ottawa can start to picture on the ground. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Prospect Kaden Rolling Now Faces A Different Development Path
Kaden Rollings development path has changed again, with the Windsor Spitfires moving the Senators prospect to the Brantford Bulldogs as part of a roster-driven deal. Windsor received two picks in the 2028 OHL Draft, a reminder that junior hockey decisions often come down to balancing present needs with long-term planning, even when a young defenceman is still very much part of a bigger organizational picture.
For Rolling, the move comes with a different short-term assignment as he continues his season away from the OHL spotlight before settling into Brantfords lineup down the road. The Spitfires also had a separate bit of positive news on the blue line, with Conor Walton earning OHL West Division academic player of the month honors for October, a nod to the kind of off-ice progress clubs still value while their prospects sort out the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Look More Dangerous Than Their Playoff Versions For One Reason
The early-season NHL power rankings have already started to separate the Canadian contenders, and Ottawa has found itself in the middle of that conversation after a frustrating start to the year. The Senators have shown enough talent to stay in the mix, but the opening stretch has also reminded everyone how quickly a good week can be undone when details slip and points get away.
There is still plenty of season left for Ottawa to climb, especially with the standings so compressed this early. But the first ranking of the year offered a blunt snapshot of where the Senators stand right now, and it was not the kind of placement that lets a team coast on optimism for long. [Read more 🡒]