Eastern Conference Team Calling About the Availability of MacKenzie Weegar

The Ottawa Senators — second last in the Eastern Conference — are nowhere near where they wanted or expected to be coming into the season after making the playoffs for the first time in eight years in 2024–25.

As a result, GM Steve Staios finds himself in a tricky spot leading up to the March 6 trade deadline, one that could involve a mix of buying and selling. Recent reports have suggested that’s exactly how he’s proceeding, which, according to team reporter Bruce Garrioch, has included kicking tires on acquiring MacKenzie Weegar from Calgary.

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Garrioch shared in a recent article for the Ottawa Citizen that the Senators have been searching for top-four help on the blue line all season and have their eyes on the Flames defenseman.

Garrioch wrote:

“The Senators have been scouring the market for a blueliner who can play in the club’s top four all season, and league executives told Postmedia on Tuesday that the club may have held talks with the Calgary Flames about MacKenzie Weegar

Weegar has a full no-move clause, so he would have to approve a deal to the Senators. Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2013 National Hockey League draft, there is no reason to believe that Weegar would turn down a deal to Ottawa,”

The 32-year-old Weegar is in year three of the eight-year, $50 million extension he signed with the Flames in 2022, which includes the aforementioned full no-movement clause through the 2026–27 campaign. He’s tallied 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) across 52 games this season.

Mackenzie Weegar Would Be a Great Fit in Ottawa

While the Flames aren’t inclined to trade Weegar, acquiring more picks and prospects as part of a rebuild wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. The Senators could not only provide that, but also offer a tremendous landing spot for the player.

Ottawa might not have its first-round pick in 2026, but they do own their first in each of the following three years, along with a full cupboard of second- and third-round picks. Pair a few of those with a prospect of GM Craig Conroy’s liking, and there could be a deal to be made between the Flames and Senators.

Weegar would complete a top-four alongside Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Artem Zub, forming one of the strongest defensive corps in the league. His do-it-all ability on the back end is extremely valuable, and it’s easy to imagine that a better opportunity to compete and win in the coming years would give him even more juice to play at his absolute best.

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