Senators mailbag: Which off-season targets can help team take next step?

OTTAWA — Typically, as a journalist, I’m the one asking questions. But now it’s time to answer some of our smart, sophisticated readers in Sportsnet’s annual Senators season-ending mailbag.

I’m sure many of you hope that next time we do this it’ll be in June.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and truly from the bottom of my heart, thanks to everyone who read along this season. It’s finally a fun time to be a Senators fan, and you truly deserve a competitive hockey team after years of misery.   

Here we go!

Let’s start with a fun one.

Some hyperbole to start: of course Brady Tkachuk‘s a Hall of Fame lock!

Kidding aside, the most meaningful storyline that has disappeared, finally, is whether Tkachuk is a winning player. His performances both at the 4 Nations Face-Off as one of the best players on an ice filled with generational talent and in leading his team to the playoffs despite injury end any discussions about Tkachuk not being a winning player. 

In my opinion, Tkachuk has now cemented himself as the most beloved Senator since Daniel Alfredsson. I have a sneaking suspicion he will be scoring some big playoff goals in the near future like his assistant coach did in Ottawa, too. Also, I think the questions of Tkachuk leaving are put to rest (for a while, at least).

Thanks, Kyle and Naftali for the questions. General manager Steve Staios’s track record suggests he swings big — just look at the Linus Ullmark and the Dylan Cozens trades. The Senators have $17 million in cap space, which is enough to add via free agency. They also have their first-round pick as a trade asset.

I’ve been on this for a while, but I think Nikolaj Ehlers would be the perfect player to put beside Tim Stutzle with his speed, dynamism and a good shot that would inject a ton of scoring punch. On defence, I think Aaron Ekblad or Rasmus Andersson would be nice, but I wonder if they make a Nick Jensen-type move for a guy like Michael Kesselring who’s a free agent and had a really good season in Utah. Or why not both?

Great question, Dylan. I remain curious that it seems the Senators kept their 2025 first rounder (there’s been no official word, but they had 24 hours from the draft lottery to make their decision), which makes me think they might get a reduction in their punishment for the Evgenii Dadonov trade. For now, Ottawa will have to forfeit next year’s first rounder as a result of the botched deal.

Unless the Senators trade away this year’s first, here’s what we know about Staios’s drafting history: in his last go-round, all selections stood at least six-foot-four. Staios and the Senators seem to like height and size, and I wonder if that continues.

Great minds think alike, AJ. Well, at least your mind is great.

In any case, I’ve also been thinking about this a lot. Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson will both be 23 when next season starts. As Travis Green always says, “they are just scratching the surface.” Both took a huge step this season, Sanderson offensively and Stutzle defensively. They both are gym rats and meticulously hard workers.

While I don’t think they will ever reach the heights of MacKinnon and Makar, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights were led by Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo, which could be comparable. To me, the fact that both are signed for six more years at roughly $8 million is the biggest reason to have optimism as a Sens fan.

Bringing the heat with this question, Connor.

Throughout the series against the Maple Leafs, Shane Pinto and his line played more than Dylan Cozens’ line. As of right now, in my opinion, Pinto is this team’s second-line centre because he takes on the tougher matchups, plays more and has more trust from his coach. Cozens’ defensive play will determine whether the trade works out or not for the Senators. Let’s revisit this topic after next season.

Ahh, a Claude Giroux question!

Both are the same age, but I think Brad Marchand is slightly better than Giroux (plus an absolute pest). If the Senators move off Giroux, I think they should swing for Marchand. Imagine Tkachuk, Marchand, Greig as your top three left-wingers. Eesh.

Speaking as someone with grey hairs at 27, as my colleagues Julian McKenzie and Graeme Nichols pointed out to me earlier this year, Giroux should keep those red locks flowing.  

I love these types of questions, Andre. The whole point of fandom is being a fanatic, and I will never tell fans how to be fans. Life isn’t fun when you don’t care, right?

Hey Nick, we all want local stars to return home. But I’m not sure what the Senators could do to acquire Senator legend Radek Bonk’s son from the Flyers, besides maybe waiting until he’s a free agent in the 2030s.

The schadenfreude of Senators fans enjoying the Leafs failures must be fun, right Peter?

To answer the question, I would say they are one or two more impact forwards and another defenceman away from becoming a legitimate threat in the East.

Great question from a fellow Alex. Staios didn’t seem worried about offer sheets at his closing press conference.

And with a rising cap and the Senators not owning a cabinet of picks, it’s unlikely they will use offer sheets to pry players from other teams, either.

There’s been a lot of talk about the Senators goaltending in the past. As a Leevi Merilainen “truther,” if I was Staios, I’d let him be the backup and maybe bring in an Alex Lyon type as a backup/AHL starter.

Staios spoke glowingly about Anton Forsberg after the season, so maybe they re-sign him. At least Ottawa finally has a bona fide starting goalie.

I will try to answer both, Bran and Kyle. I believe Staios is very high on Zetterlund, and that could impact Giroux’s future. I’d be very surprised if the Senators added a top-level right winger in the off-season.

I doubt it. Batherson is one of Ottawa’s bargain contracts. Not a perfect player, but not sure how they’d replace him following his third straight 60-point season.

Thanks Julio, I appreciate your love for the Senators and Shawarma Palace on Twitter.

Kleven took a massive step in the playoffs, no doubt. He definitely could be a top-four defenceman if he takes strides from where he ended the season. He’s better defensively than Chabot and his pending restricted free agency will be fascinating as to whether the Sens opt for a short- or long-term offer.

Can next season start tomorrow, Jack? Best guess.

Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-(insert addition)
Kleven-Matinpalo

Let’s see if Jensen is healthy by training camp.

Hey, another Alex! Thanks for the question. Maybe Frederic. I doubt the Senators chase Bennett, as they don’t need another centre.

Shoutout to Kevin Lee for becoming an honourary Senators ticket seller, pushing Senators fans to fill the building against Toronto. It worked: the Canadian Tire Centre was a sea of red.

Also, a really smart question. I think both Greig and Pinto can take another step offensively. Pinto can inch closer to scoring 30 goals with some more offensive touches. Meanwhile, Greig played at a 50-point pace since Jan. 26. Both players aren’t yet 25, so there’s lots of room to grow offensively.

You’re hitting the drum I’ve been smashing all year, Corey and Tyler. Great questions.

In my opinion, even though Green would say otherwise, of the teams left in the playoffs, none employ a dramatic zonal penalty kill like the Senators. In the regular season, the Senators were 24th in high-danger chances allowed on the kill, and they remain tied for last in that same category in the playoffs.

I’d love Stutzle to kill penalties, and Staios should bring in another penalty killer, but they need to scrap the formation more than anything.

Thanks, Jim for the question. He should’ve learned that they need some injection of scoring, and that they’re close to becoming a legit contender if they keep growing the talent level.

Thanks for the question, Vic, but I’m not sure how to answer the first two.

In answering the last question, in all honesty, the team was awesome to cover — just ask my colleagues. If I had to pick any players, I’d say the two that stood out to me were Shane Pinto with his infectious energy and Jake Sanderson with his quiet confidence.

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