The Ottawa Senators are actively seeking a top-six winger to bolster their lineup in a major trade. General manager Steve Staios has been pursuing this addition since the team's playoff elimination. Despite solid offensive output this season, inconsistencies on the wings have prompted the move.
The Ottawa Senators are in the market for a high-impact winger to elevate their top-six forwards, aiming for what reports describe as a 'home run' deal. This season, the team has surprised with strong 5-on-5 scoring, ranking 11th in the NHL with 46 goals, a marked improvement from their 31st-place finish with 140 goals in 2024-25. Elite centers Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto have combined for 29 goals, while Drake Batherson has contributed effectively.
Captain Brady Tkachuk is set to return on November 28 against the St. Louis Blues after missing most games due to injury. On his podcast 'Wingmen,' Tkachuk expressed excitement, stating he is 'fired up to return to the ice and is feeling good.' However, the wings have lacked consistency, with rotations including Michael Amadio, Ridly Greig, David Perron, Nick Cousins, Fabian Zetterlund, and Lars Eller. Amadio and Claude Giroux form a strong third line with Pinto, but others like Greig (currently injured and underproducing) and Zetterlund (recently scoring in back-to-back games) have not filled the top-six roles reliably. Veterans Perron, Cousins, and Eller are better suited for depth.
Potential trade targets include Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov, who reportedly explored options earlier but refuted rumors and has since returned to the top line, per Elliotte Friedman. Svechnikov maintains a 70-point pace when healthy and brings grit. Other candidates are Dallas Stars' Jason Robertson (fourth in NHL scoring, amid extension talks), Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland or Brock Boeser (amid team openness to deals), Buffalo Sabres' Alex Tuch (physical presence, extension interest), Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg (elite scorer if Preds rebuild), and St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (30-goal potential, despite recent scratches).
Staios must act soon to prevent scoring regression, as depth has masked lineup gaps so far.