The Ottawa Senators have been at the center of some of the bigger moves this offseason already. The Senators started the offseason by sending Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for multiple draft picks. One of those picks, the ninth overall selection, was sent to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for William Eklund.

The Sharks would use that pick on Keaton Verhoeff, a blueliner from North Dakota. Meanwhile, the Senators used the 25th overall selection, which they got from Florida for Tkachuk, on Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, which has been seen as a reach for the pick. They would also select 32nd in the draft, taking Jaxon Cover. While the Sens got Eklund to help replace Tkachuk, it is not going to be enough to fully replace him.

Meanwhile, Senators missed out on some potential trades heading into the draft. The Senators were connected to Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks. He ended up with the St. Louis Blues. There was also Pavel Dorofeyev on the market, but he is now with the New York Rangers. With NHL Free Agency opening this week, and still some players on the trade market, the Senators need to make some big needs to address.

The Senators still need a top-six forward

The Senators still need a top-six forward. Eklund, Tim Stutzle, and Fabian Zetterlund make a solid top line, but with a second line of Ridly Greig, Dylan Cozens, and Drake Batherson, there is not enough firepower to make a run in the Eastern Conference. The Sens did make a trade for Andre Burakovsky, but he is likely to play on the third or fourth line. With Dorofeyev and McTavis off the market, there are still options for a top-six forward.

Jason Robertson is a restricted free agent, as is Trevor Zegras. There could be a move to be made there. Anders Lee is an unrestricted free agent, but with limited cap space, they may need to go another direction. That should be Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks. DeBrusk is under contract through the 2030-31 season at an AAV of $5.5 million, and is on the market from the Vancouver Canucks.

DeBrusk has emerged as a formidable top-six option for many teams, and with a better supporting cast around him, he should thrive. In the last five seasons, he has scored 40 or more points in all of them. He has also found the back of the net 19 or more times in all five years. In his two years with the Canucks, he has lit the lamp 51 times while adding 39 assists. DeBrusk would also help the power play unit for the Senators. With the Canucks forward being available, the Senators need to make a move for him.

Samuel Ersson is not the answer behind Linus Ullmark

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram (39) defends the goal during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center.
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Senators have Linus Ullmark entrenched as their starting netminder. He was solid for the team in the playoffs, with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage, despite going 0-4. Still, even with Ullmark, the Carolina Hurricanes not only defeated Ullmark and the Senators but also showed the need for two solid netminders.