Staios Isn't Hiding It — A Senators Offseason Defenseman Is Priority No. 1
The Senators offseason defenseman search is officially underway, and GM Steve Staios isn't being coy about it. In a March 14 interview following the trade deadline, Staios called defensive upgrades his top priority for the summer — a striking admission from a GM who otherwise insisted he “really likes” his team. Read between the lines: Ottawa's blue line isn't good enough. Not yet. Not for a team that wants to stop being a “playoff hopeful” and start being a playoff lock.
Here's the awkward truth. The Senators approached the March 6 deadline as buyers. They wanted a right-shot defenseman badly enough to make calls. But every conversation hit the same wall — teams wanted Carter Yakemchuk or Ridly Greig in return. Staios hung up. Smart move. But it left Ottawa with the same defensive gap it had in October, just with Warren Foegele stapled to the wing and David Perron's locker cleaned out.
The offseason is where this gets fixed. And the options are more interesting than you'd think.
Ottawa's Defensive Surge Has Been Real — But Fragile
Credit where it's earned. Since late January, the Senators have been one of the best defensive teams in hockey. Full stop.
| Metric (Since Late January) | Senators Rank | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Shots Allowed Per Game | 1st in NHL | 20.9 |
| Scoring Chances Against Per Game | 1st in NHL | 21.3 |
| Goals Against Per Game | 1st in NHL | 2.2 |
| Penalty Kill % | Improved | 81.8% |
Those numbers are elite. Assistant coach Mike Yeo deserves a raise for what he's done with the penalty kill alone. The Sanderson-Zub pairing has evolved into one of the best shutdown duos in the Eastern Conference, and Thomas Chabot has quietly posted 45 points while anchoring the second pair alongside Nick Jensen.
But sustainable? That's the question. Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen both missed time with injuries down the stretch. When either sat out, the depth behind them was Tyler Kleven, Dennis Gilbert, and Lassi Thomson — recalled from Belleville on March 14. That's not a playoff blue line. That's a prayer. Ottawa's record sits at 34-23-9, three points behind Detroit for the second wild card with 16 games left. The margin is razor-thin. One more defensive injury and the whole thing unravels.
Staios knows this. It's why he's already thinking about July.
Carter Yakemchuk — The Homegrown Answer on the Right Side
Before Ottawa goes shopping, they need to answer one question internally: is Carter Yakemchuk ready?
The seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft has spent all of 2025-26 with AHL Belleville, and the returns have been encouraging. Twenty-five points in 41 games. Eighth in the league in power-play assists — leading all rookies. At 6-foot-4 with a right-handed shot, he's exactly the profile Ottawa is missing on its blue line.
The raw tools were never the issue. Yakemchuk was drafted for his offensive dynamism — the one-timers, the activation through the neutral zone, the willingness to jump into the rush. What scouts questioned was his defensive positioning. Gap coverage. Reads in his own end. The boring stuff that keeps you in an NHL lineup past November.
By all accounts, he's addressed it. Staios himself said he “doesn't rule out Yakemchuk making the team next year.” That's GM-speak for: we're seriously considering it.
But here's my concern. Yakemchuk will be 20 years old next season. Penciling him into a top-four role on a team fighting for its first playoff berth since 2017 is a gamble. The smarter play? Bring in a veteran right-shot defenseman to handle the second pair and let Yakemchuk ease in on the third pair or as the seventh defenseman. Protect the kid. Let him earn it gradually instead of drowning him in responsibility he's not ready for.
Trade Targets: Ristolainen Makes the Most Sense
The Senators offseason defenseman trade board is shorter than you'd expect. MacKenzie Weegar — the name most connected to Ottawa in January — was shipped to Utah at the deadline. Gone. But two realistic options remain.
Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers) is the fit that makes too much sense to ignore. He's 6-foot-4, right-handed, physical, and carries a manageable $5.1 million cap hit with one year remaining. The Flyers tried to move him at the deadline but couldn't get their asking price of a first-round pick — the best offer was reportedly a second-rounder. That gap will narrow in the summer when Philadelphia loses leverage. Ottawa could land him for a second-round pick and a mid-tier prospect. That's a price Staios should pay without blinking.
Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils) is the sexier name but the harder deal. Hamilton has two years left at $9 million AAV with a modified no-trade clause and a $7.4 million signing bonus due July 1. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald admitted he wants to “shake one loose” from his seven-defenseman logjam to upgrade his forward group. But the cap hit is brutal. Unless New Jersey retains 40% or more, Hamilton's number doesn't work for Ottawa — not with extensions for Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle already eating significant cap space. If the Devils are desperate enough? Sure, kick the tires. But Ristolainen is the practical play.
The UFA Market Has a Wildcard
If the trade route stalls, the July 1 free agent class offers one genuinely compelling option on the right side.
| UFA Defenseman | Age | Shot | 2025-26 Team | Projected AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmus Andersson | 29 | Right | Vegas Golden Knights | $6.5–7.5M |
| John Carlson | 35 | Right | Washington Capitals | $4–5M |
| Darren Raddysh | 28 | Right | Tampa Bay Lightning | $3–4M |
Rasmus Andersson is the wildcard. Calgary traded him to Vegas at the deadline, but there's no guarantee the Golden Knights extend him. If he hits the open market, he's the best right-shot defenseman available by a significant margin — a legitimate top-pair option at 29 who can defend, move the puck, and quarterback a power play. Ottawa has the projected cap space to make a competitive offer. Whether Andersson would choose a team still chasing its first playoff berth is another question entirely.
John Carlson at 35 is a power-play specialist who may or may not play next season. Not Ottawa's profile. Darren Raddysh is intriguing as a cheaper depth addition but doesn't solve the top-four need.
The Cap Math Works — If Ottawa Is Patient
This is the part that should excite Senators fans. Ottawa currently has roughly $2.5 million in cap space — tight for this season. But approximately $11 million comes off the books for 2026-27, and with the salary cap projected to rise toward $104 million, the Senators will have genuine financial flexibility for the first time in Staios's tenure.
The Perron trade already cleared $4 million. If Ottawa moves another expiring contract or two, you're looking at $15-18 million in available space. That's enough to absorb Ristolainen's $5.1 million, add a depth forward, and still have room for Yakemchuk's entry-level deal. The arithmetic isn't complicated. It just requires patience — something Staios has shown in spades by refusing to gut his prospect pipeline at the deadline.
The Senators offseason defenseman acquisition is coming. The only questions are who, when, and how much. My bet? Ristolainen via trade in late June, Yakemchuk earning a roster spot in training camp, and Ottawa finally entering October with a blue line that doesn't require an asterisk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What position do the Senators need most this offseason?
Right-shot defenseman. GM Steve Staios confirmed in a March 14 interview that defensive upgrades are Ottawa's number one offseason priority. The team's current right side features Artem Zub and Nick Jensen as regulars, with prospect Carter Yakemchuk potentially joining from the AHL.
Will Carter Yakemchuk play for the Senators next season?
Staios said he “doesn't rule out” Yakemchuk making the team in 2026-27. The 7th overall pick in 2024 has posted 25 points in 41 AHL games with Belleville and leads all rookies in power-play assists. At 6-foot-4 with a right-handed shot, he fits Ottawa's biggest positional need.
How much cap space will the Senators have for 2026-27?
Ottawa has approximately $2.5 million in current cap space, but roughly $11 million comes off the books after this season. Combined with the projected salary cap increase toward $104 million, the Senators should have $15-18 million in effective cap room to work with this offseason.
Who are the top right-shot defensemen available this summer?
Trade targets include Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia, $5.1M AAV) and Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey, $9M AAV). On the UFA market, Rasmus Andersson is the top option if Vegas doesn't extend him, followed by veteran John Carlson and emerging Tampa Bay blueliner Darren Raddysh.
