Jan 14, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing Adam Gaudette (81) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with Ottawa Senators center Nick Cousins (21) and Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (12) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

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Ottawa Senators Eye Key Additions Ahead of Trade Deadline to Bolster Playoff Push

Ottawa Senators shift focus to buying at the trade deadline, aiming to bolster their roster for a playoff push.

The Ottawa Senators have started talks regarding trade acquisition targets with more than seven weeks remaining before the March 7 trade deadline, general manager Steve Staios informed Bruce Garrioch for the Ottawa Citizen yesterday.

“We still have some runway leading into the trade deadline so we have some time, but it’s nice to be having these conversations with how the group has performed,” Staios said. The Sens are just one point away from a wild card position in the Eastern Conference but have more games left to play than both teams ahead of them in the standings, giving them a solid chance to prevent their seven-year playoff drought from reaching eight.

The most notable shift compared to previous years is the enhanced stability within the pipes, turning injuries into a minor issue rather than an overwhelming challenge. Goaltending is no longer a pressing issue with starter Linus Ullmark out due to a back injury, as Leevi Merilainen has made an impression in his six games over the last month, posting a record of 4-2-0 along with a .913 SV% and a 2.34 GAA.

Three wins in a row for the @Senators and Leevi Merilainen! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dUTTfqi9mu
— NHL (@NHL) January 15, 2025

Ottawa’s depth in skating is where Staios aims to implement some cautious enhancements in the coming weeks, yet, as he mentioned to Garrioch, they will receive some assistance from within the organization. Due to personal leave and a back injury, veteran winger David Perron has recorded no points in nine games since signing a two-year, $8MM contract during the summer.

He aims to rejoin the lineup within the next week after starting to skate again earlier this month. The 36-year-old finished last season with the Red Wings, scoring 47 points in 76 games, a scoring pace that could benefit a Senators offense averaging only 2.88 goals per game, ranking 21st in the league.

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Although Perron will be primarily a free pre-deadline acquisition, and several other injured forwards are anticipated to return in the coming weeks, enhancing forward depth was consistently going to be this team’s priority at the deadline if they were able to make additions. They will probably seek a winger with greater potential for advancement than Perron, Michael Amadio, or Adam Gaudette, who has only managed one assist in his last 11 games following a hot beginning to the season.

Amadio and Perron fit well as third-line players, and they’re stocked with bottom-six grinders like Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, and Zack MacEwen. Another right-handed defenseman as a backup for the injury-prone Travis Hamonic and Artem Zub is also probably being considered. They have already been associated with unrestricted free agent John Klingberg, who is seeking an NHL return after having hip resurfacing surgery in December 2023.

The Senators are facing a cap dilemma currently – just $80K in deadline cap space before their LTIR pool of $3.715MM, according to PuckPedia. Those financials will shift significantly between now and the deadline, especially with Perron returning from LTIR and at least Amadio and Hamonic coming off IR.

Image Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!