Didn't Mark Stone go down yesterday too? depending on how bad that is we might see them make a move for someone they may have no choice
Stone is expected to be ready to start the season.
Lazar has mono and they haven't really been clear about his time table.
Smith proved last year that he can be serviceable in the top 6. Ottawa has a lot of depth on the left side (Hoffman, Smith, Puempel, Dzingel, Paul, Pyatt, Kelly). If they believe strongly enough in Puempel who is a first round pick, drafted 5 years ago, and has scored lots of goals in the AHL but hasn't gotten a chance in Ottawa's top 6, he could be their solution. Personally, with Boucher's emphasis on speed and how good Dzingel looked in (limited) games last year, I think he will be the guy to eventually break out and capitalize on the opening in the Sens top 6.
If the Sens make a trade, I think it'll be for a third line type guy on the right side. That is where they are weak and if Lazar isn't ready to start the season, outside of playing someone on their offside or moving Turris to wing (which has never been done) Neil is currently the 3RW which is not good. (He's very good as a 4RW).
As far as a trade as a result of the MacArthur hit, it will be entirely financially motivated. The contract is apparently not insured, and according to Eugene Melnyk in a radio interview last year he gives Ottawa a 68M player budget. Mac makes nearly 5M for the next four seasons. If Mac is unofficially retired after this hit and on LTIR, the only trade I can really think of is something around MacArthur's LTIR contract and a bunch of good assets (1st round pick++?) for Rick Nash from the Rangers. It comes down to Ottawa spending 16M on Nash to play over two years versus spending 20M on Mac to sit at home over 4 years. Rangers have not had success moving Nash yet and they have to clear cap space going into next year to re up a few players and possibly cover Vesey's bonuses. They get 3M in real space plus another 4.6M in LTIR. They also get another expansion protected slot via shedding Nash's NMC. Lastly, they would get an actual return for Nash in the form of whatever futures Ottawa sends NYR.
Losing Mac certainly hurts Ottawa going forward, but they have guys in the system who have potential to step up and by top 6 forwards. This is why I think a trade as a result of this loss would be more of a cap/salary oriented move than a move purely to improve the team.