Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios is actively exploring trade options as the NHL draft approaches, with the No. 25 overall pick available for the right price. However, the No. 32 selection, awarded by Commissioner Gary Bettman as compensation for a botched 2021 deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, cannot be traded.
Draft Picks as Trade Assets
The Senators hold the No. 25 and No. 32 picks in Friday's first round in Buffalo. Staios, who also serves as president of hockey operations, aims to use the No. 25 pick to acquire a player who can contribute immediately. The pick was obtained from the Florida Panthers on Sunday, along with the No. 9 selection that Ottawa later dealt to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday for winger William Eklund. Ottawa also acquired Florida's second-round pick in 2027 and the Panthers' first-rounder in 2029.
Despite a thin prospect pool, Staios has no intention of using all available picks. He was unable to convince Panthers GM Bill Zito to include a roster player in the previous deal, so the Senators are now seeking help elsewhere. Ottawa also has three third-round picks and selections in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds on Saturday.
Trade Targets and Potential Deals
The Senators are targeting a forward who can play in the top six or a top-four right-shot defenseman. NHL executives suggest that trading the No. 25 pick may require attaching another prospect or player. Ottawa's core includes Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Dylan Cozens, Thomas Chabot, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Drake Batherson, but the team wants to win now, which drove the acquisition of Eklund.
According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen in May, the Senators have interest in Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated the Senators are 'trying hard' to acquire McTavish. The Ducks may demand a young roster player in return. 'The ask is high,' one league executive said. Other teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Calgary Flames, have also inquired about McTavish.
A report by James Murphy of RG Media on Thursday suggested the Senators are front-runners for McTavish, with defenseman Jordan Spence, a restricted free agent on July 1, potentially part of the deal. McTavish has five years remaining on a contract worth $7 million U.S. per season. His father, Dale, was one of Staios's first hires in Ottawa in 2023 as a pro scout. McTavish has 77 goals and 181 assists in 304 NHL games. He grew up in Ottawa and spends his off-seasons there, and a fresh start may be beneficial as he is not a favorite of Ducks coach Joel Quenneville.
