Senators Trade Deadline: Can Staios Deliver the Right Shot?

Once the gold medals are handed out in the Olympic Games, the real chase begins in the NHL. All 32 general managers will be hunting for the missing pieces to make a playoff push. For the Ottawa Senators, that hunt is already front and center.

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Sitting six points out of a playoff spot with just 25 games to go, the president of hockey operations and GM Steve Staios has some big decisions to make.

One Priority for the Senators Is a Right-Shot Blueliner

The top priority for Ottawa is obvious: a right-shot defenseman. Nick Jensen has struggled to find his late-season form after hip surgery, and the Senators need stability on the blue line. That’s why Calgary’s MacKenzie Weegar has popped up as the prime target. At 32 and with a $6.25 million cap hit through 2030-31, Weegar would immediately solidify Ottawa’s top four and bring veteran savvy to the blueline.

Zach Whitecloud is another name Staios has likely checked in on, though Flames’ asking prices are reportedly high. Other options across the league include Brandon Carlo (Toronto), Doug Hamilton (New Jersey), Connor Murphy (Chicago), and Justin Faulk or Colton Parayko (St. Louis), who are potential options, not confirmed targets. But all of those come with steep price tags, and Ottawa has limitations this spring. Ottawa can’t offer a first-round pick this spring due to a previous penalty from the Vegas deal.

But Staios Wants More than Defensive Help

It’s not only the blue line keeping Staios up at night— he’s also hunting for a forward who can jump straight into the top six, drive possession, and bury chances in clutch moments. Ottawa’s staring down a brutal reality: they’ll need to rack up something like 19 wins from their final 25 games or so to even sniff the playoffs. Any move he makes has to pay dividends right away, no development time allowed. And once the Olympic guys filter back in and the lineup settles, those veteran forwards—Claude Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, Nick Cousins—might slide into the mix depending on how everything shakes out.

And let’s not forget goaltending. Mads Sogaard is back from representing Denmark at the Olympics and is currently with the Belleville AHL affiliate. With Ottawa’s playoff hopes on the line, even a goalie move could be in play.

The Senators Have Some Big Decisions to Make

Steve Staios is basically on a high-wire act right now. Does he go all-in and chase down a solid right-shot D-man—maybe even snag a legit top-six forward to juice the lineup—or does he hold steady, cross his fingers, and bet on this group finding another gear as the season winds down? The next couple of weeks could make or break Ottawa’s playoff chances, and if he seriously wants them in the dance, the GM’s probably going to have to roll the dice and get aggressive.

Related: Senators Have 2 Big Trade Needs to Address