The Ottawa Senators have already added William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky up front, but the work may not be done yet. If they want to keep building out their top nine, another forward with some offensive punch still makes sense.
That is where Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli enters the picture. The 25-year-old was not given a qualifying offer, which puts him on track to become a UFA on July 1 unless Toronto reaches a new deal with him before then. If he gets to market, Ottawa should be ready to jump in.
Maccelli has the kind of resume that makes him an intriguing swing. A 2019 fourth-round pick, he followed a rough 2024-25 campaign with a much better showing in 2025-26, finishing with 14 goals and 39 points in 71 games for Toronto after posting eight goals and 18 points in 55 games with Utah the season before. That bounce-back is exactly why he looks like the sort of player worth a look.
For the Senators, the fit is easy to picture. Maccelli could slide into the middle six, either on a third line with Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele or even pushing for a second-line role. Either way, he would give Ottawa’s forward group a bit more juice.
There is also a clear special teams angle here. Maccelli’s passing ability could make him useful on the power play, whether on the first unit or the second. In a free-agent class that does not look especially deep, he stands out as a name Ottawa should seriously chase.
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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 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 🡒]