January 6, 2024 | 9:24pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
SENATORS LOOKING TO MAKE TRADES
Senators GM Steve Staois
With Steve Staois now official the full time General Manager of the Ottawa Senators, it appears team management is actively trying to upgrade its roster this season and make some moves.
Going into Saturday night’s action, the Senators sit last in the Eastern Conference with a 14-20-0 record and 28 points, and even though the playoffs seem to be very much out of reach this season, Staois and his staff are looking to add.
During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman reported the Senators are one of the more active teams out there and are scouring the market for trades.
“I think there’s no question right now, just in talking to everybody today, that the most aggressive team at this time of year right now is the Ottawa Senators,” Friedman said. “They’re out there and they are letting it be known that they want to try some things.”
Friedman noted the team is not interested in moving any of their young core players, adding that they are “not at the point they’re even considering that,” but it’s clear Staois is hoping to add character players to his roster.
“What they are looking for, the word is, is pros,” Friedman said. “Real professionals. Players who know how to play properly. Players who take good care of themselves. They’re just looking to add some more of that to their roster. That is what other teams are saying about Ottawa.”
The Senators do not have a lot of salary cap space to play with and any roster tinkering will likely result in a player or two being moved off the team.
Ottawa also has three forwards playing on expiring contracts that could be in play this season leading up to the trade deadline in Vladimir Tarasenko, who has a full no-trade clause and would have to approve any deal the Sens try to make, Dominik Kubalik and Jiri Smejkal.