The Ottawa Senators are reportedly looking to make a home run trade, and while their scoring hasn’t been an issue this season, they are looking for a top-six winger, and that should happen sooner rather than later.
It’s been a strange year when looking at trade candidates. There were so many pending free agents re-signing, some teams are gearing up for a fire sale, and some wingers are being talked about in surprising ways. No matter where they come from, Senators should look at all available options.
Senators’ need for top-six winger
Everyone knows the Senators are looking for an impactful winger. Reports indicate that general manager Steve Staios quickly started working on this after being eliminated from the playoffs. Conscription, free will, the commodity market, and everything else has failed him. (from As Senators reach 20-game mark, is it time for Steve Staios to make a big splash?, Ottawa Sun, Nov 20, 2025)
The offense has actually looked pretty good this season. The club is over without their captain and top winger for all but three games this season. After looking at last season’s abysmal 5-on-5 scoring, combined with minimal roster changes since last season, their offensive success this season has been quite surprising.
The Senators are currently 11th in 5-on-5 goals scored, with 46, which is a significantly better pace than their 31st-place ranking of 140 in 2024-2025.
The trio of elite centers the Senators have, Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto, lead the way with a total of 29 goals, and Drake Batherson has produced very well, but there are three holes on the wing in the top six.
Brady Tkachuk is set to return to the lineup on Nov. 28 when the Senators visit the St. Louis Blues, which certainly fills one of those holes. He said on his newly formed podcast, Wingmen, that he is excited to return to the ice and that he is feeling good. Tkachuk has a very high offensive ceiling, which he showed in three of the past four seasons. While 2024-2025 didn’t prove to be all that productive for him, it’s hard to forget how dominant he can be.
The other two spots on the wings have been filled by many combinations of Michael Amadio, Ridly Greig, David Perron, Nick Cousins, Fabian Zetterlund, and even Lars Eller has stepped in there. There is little to no consistency with the wings, with the exception of two.
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Giroux and Amadio were part of the elite third line the Senators rolled out, with Pinto in between. They have been together regularly and dominate their share of the Ice Age. Those two wingers can be left out of the equation.
Cousins, Perron and Eller are not part of this team to be the top six contributors. They have a role, but that’s not it.
Ridly Greig, who has missed the last few games due to injury, has also had time there but has not produced. While points aren’t everything, the player who can fill that gap should be more productive than Greig.
That leaves Fabian Zetterlund. While scoring goals in back-to-back matches could be the start of his turnaround with the team, he has also failed to score so far. If the Senators were to go big and add an elite winger to the group, having Zetterlund in the top six would be a good opportunity for him to continue finding his way. He has the talent to be there and could certainly be the fourth winger.
Tkachuk, Batherson and Zetterlund all have a home in the top six if the Senators land another high-end winger, so here’s a look at some of the potential candidates to fill the void in the Senators’ top six.
Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes
The Senators are reportedly looking to make a home run trade, and if the Carolina Hurricanes are willing to listen, Andrei Svechnikov would be a perfect target for the club.
On Saturday headlinesElliotte Friedman reported that the Hurricanes and Svechnikov were getting closer to exploring trade options. Although the star winger has had a dramatic turnaround since those conversations earlier this season, the Senators should make a call if the Hurricanes reopen the phone lines.
Svechnikov spoke to the media and refuted the reportalthough there must be respect for the fact that both Friedman and Svechnikov are doing their jobs on both sides of the report. Friedman reports what people tell him, players try to silence rumors.
Although he has missed a significant amount of time in recent seasons, Svechnikov regularly scores at a 70-point pace. He steps up when he is needed, he has a raw style to his game and would fit in very well with any of the top three centers in Ottawa.
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson’s availability is a huge question. The latest reports indicate that the Dallas Stars will be working hard to secure an extension for the superstar winger, but currently they are waiting for Robertson and his agent to come back to the negotiating table.
The Stars have built an incredible team, and Robertson plays a huge role in that. Currently ranked fourth in the NHL in scoring, there is no doubting his talents. If the Stars determine they won’t make a deal for Robertson, they could look to move him, and the Senators should be ready for their home run swing.
Someone from the Vancouver Canucks
There have been plenty of reports that it’s the Vancouver Canucks open for business. Most of the players in question are players who have an expiring contract or are on a short term contract. That would include wingers Kiefer Sherwood and Evander Kane.
Sherwood and Kane bring a lot of value in their own ways, but Sherwood is a prime regression candidate and should be someone the Senators want to avoid. If the price is right, Sherwood would be a fantastic addition, but he shouldn’t be the ideal deal the Senators are looking for.
Kane brings some physicality and can still produce, but again, he’s not the top six star they need.
Two wingers that could definitely be discussed are Conor Garland and Brock Boeser. Despite already having signed an extension with the Canucks, Garland’s name has resurfaced in trade rumors, including The Province’s Patrick Johnston reporting that the Canucks were already considering a deal for Garland.
Assuming they listen to Garland, there could also be a question about Brock Boeser. How far are they going to tear it down? Garland or Boeser would be a good addition to the top six for the Senators.
Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabre
Alex Tuch would be another huge upgrade on the wing for the Senators. He plays a strong game. Physical, fights hard and plays with emotion. That kind of player would play very well for the Senators. There’s no telling what will happen between him and the Buffalo Sabres. There is mutual interest reported in an extension, although the dollar figure appears to be far apart.
The Senators have the cap space to play with to sign one of these wingers, but they need to be confident. Will Tuch be the long-term solution? The Senators would certainly be a better team with Tuch in the lineup, but this doesn’t feel like the kind of deal Steve Staios would want to make. He did surprise us with the Dylan Cozens transaction.
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
This would fit perfectly. If the Nashville Predators finally commit to that blow it all up and selling their top players, and it appears they are headed in that direction, the Senators would be wise to ask about Filip Forsberg.
First of all, the Sens and their Swedes have a good history, and Forsberg could be the newest part. Predator players like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos are often talked about, but the Senators should probably stay away from them because of the risk they pose given their contracts. A shot at Marchessault could make sense at the right price, but not so much for Stamkos.
Forsberg is an elite winger who, like the rest of his team, has struggled this season. Bringing him in is exactly the kind of deal they want to make.
Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues
To round out this list, Jordan Kyrou and the St. Louis Blues always seem to be in talks for now. There’s been talk of Jordan Binnington, Brayden Schenn and other Blues players, and Kyrou could definitely be one among those available.
Often used as an example, Kyrou has been healthily scratched several times over the past two seasons. He is a star player, good for 30 goals and 70 points per season, and could go even higher with the right line.
Kyrou would add a lot of speed to the Senators’ forward group and could be a huge asset in the top six. While production is always one of the first things to look at, having a player like Kyrou alongside Cozens could work extremely well.
Add scores before it becomes a problem
The Senators have had some great depth scores. They need to keep this up if they want a successful season, but they are certainly a team that could regress in scoring based on those holes in the lineup. If the Senators want to make a deal, it’s crucial that it’s done before the scoring takes place, and it appears Staios feels the same way.
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