A few team needs for the Ottawa Senators heading into the NHL trade deadline
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston and Julian McKenzie talk about the Ottawa Senators about their two team needs, a top-four right-handed defenseman and a depth winger.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
McKenzie: “Jimmy has a question for you from a senator, if that’s okay with you, since we…”
Johnston: “I don’t have a choice, man, just ask them. I’ll give him the best answer I can.”
McKenzie: “Since we all know Ottawa Senators, GM Steve Staios has studied, evaluated, monitored and kept a close eye on the market. Can you please clarify who or what he has been thinking so seriously about and how he hopes to improve his selection? He added a ‘please’ to this question.”
Johnston. “What’s your answer to that? I mean, you’re much closer.”
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McKenzie: “I think they, look, I think they need a right defender for that top four. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s who they had in mind. They could probably use another winger to score. Those are the two biggest things this team needs on that front.”
Johnston: “Problem with the right shot defender, while I wouldn’t rule them out, that’s usually an expensive asset, right?”
McKenzie: “Absolutely.”
Johnston: “I mean, we’ve, we’ve talked in these parts, where I live here in Toronto, about the Leafs and paying too much for Brandon Carlo. Well, what was Brandon Carlo? A right defender who had two years left on his contract. That’s what made him so attractive to the Leafs. They gave up a first-round pick that could end up being a pretty high pick this year Fraser Coins. So you know, the early score on that trade doesn’t look good from Leaf’s end.
But the reason why they got there, in terms of what they gave up, is because it’s hard to get the right D’s and make a difference. So, you know, be interesting to see if Ottawa can pull that off. Obviously, they don’t own the first round pick in 2026.
Nothing says you can’t trade the first one in 2027, especially if you get a player, maybe that will remain the case for a while. It’s not just a rental situation.
But you know, I’m not going to sit here and apologize for the General Managers, but I do think that sometimes it’s a tough competition to make deals. And you know, Steve Staios, I think he probably feels pretty good about the Cozens move he made at the deadline last year. There weren’t many rumors about that either. So maybe, maybe all this time, you’re getting frustrated, you know, he’s working on something bigger that has to drop before March 6th.
McKenzie: “I think, like last year, he’s probably operating in stealth mode, but yeah, this year will be a bit of a challenge. Because you don’t have the first-round pick this summer and you don’t have too many assets, it seems like you either have or want to move, as it’s been said all year that Carter Yaremchuk, their top prospect, probably won’t be available in these trades.
So I mean, this could change, but I would be surprised if they ended up hunting big game if they didn’t move, probably their best asset that they have right now.
Johnston: “Do you think they’re going to get a goalie by any chance, or has that ship sailed?”
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McKenzie: “I mean, you’d think with what they have now, it should be good.”
Johnston: “Right.”
McKenzie: “I don’t know if, I mean, Linus UllmarkI mean, he didn’t play the last game against Philadelphia, but presumably when you come out of the break, you look at Ullmark and (James) Reimer as your tandem.
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