Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks, C/LW
Stats: 58 GP, 21 goals, 43 points
Cap hit: $2 million (UFA 2025)
Donato’s name has been linked to the Senators in recent weeks. He even came up as a trade possibility in our recent callout to
The Athletic subscribers. He’s a versatile forward who can play all three positions and has some good underlying metrics. His size could be a bit of a detriment but his offence would be a welcome addition to a team that sometimes struggles to score. The biggest hold-up for Ottawa is that Donato should be attractive enough of a commodity that his asking price could rise. For those who read our Senators’ trade proposals piece from last month, you’ll know that Chicago could be asking for a second-round draft pick for Donato.
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Karlsson back to Ottawa? Dylan Cozens? Ryan Donato? Who says no?
Brandon Tanev, Seattle Kraken, LW
Stats: 59 GP, 9 goals, 17 points
AAV: $3.5 million (UFA 2025)
Tanev would be relied upon as an energy winger who would be leaned upon to bolster the Sens’ bottom six forward core and for his playoff experience.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun mentioned Friday that Tanev was getting interest from “Cup contenders and bubble teams” ahead of the deadline. If Seattle is willing to retain salary or take in another contract at a similar rate, maybe the Senators have a chance at Tanev. But Tanev has some control over his next destination thanks to his modified no-trade clause.
GO DEEPER
Why your NHL team won't — but should — make a trade deadline blockbuster
Rickard Rakell could give the Senators a top-six boost. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins, RW
Stats: 62 GP, 28 goals, 52 points
AAV: $5 million (UFA 2028)
Yes, we’ve said that you shouldn’t expect the Senators to go big-game hunting at the deadline. But humour us for a moment if you will.
Rakell would provide such a boost to the Senators offensively. The Swedish winger is in the midst of a productive year for the Penguins and is one point away from 500 for his career. He’d likely be given a chance to play with Tim Stützle on Day 1 as a Senator. This is a trade where the Senators would have to flip a roster player and add assets to make it work. And depending on who jumps into the fray, the Senators could be outbid by other suitors. But this could be a shock to the system the Senators might need as they make their charge for the postseason.
Tommy Novak, Nashville Predators, LW
Stats: 51 GP, 12 goals, 21 points
AAV: $3.5 million (UFA 2027)
Novak is in the first year of a three-year deal. But with the Predators toiling near the bottom of the standings, it makes sense to see them sell off assets. Gustav Nyquist was a potential trade target for the Senators before he was shipped to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. If the Predators continue selling, the Senators should consider giving the Predators a call on Novak. A potential trade might require the Senators to flip a player or two to accommodate his salary, but Novak could be a middle-of-the-lineup scorer this team could surely use.
Trent Frederic, Boston Bruins, LW
Stats: 57 GP, 8 goals, 15 points
AAV: $2.3 million (UFA 2025)
The Bruins will be selling ahead of the deadline, making players like Frederic expendable. Another middle-of-the-lineup player who is in the midst of a down season. Frederic isn’t that far off from a 40-point campaign with the Bruins. But he’d be able to contribute to the Senators as a checking-line forward with occasional scoring production. However, he’s
currently out week to week with a lower-body injury.
Michael McCarron, Nashville Predators, RW
Stats: 52 GP, 3 goals, 8 points
AAV: $900,000 (UFA 2026)
A year removed from a career-best 22-point season with Nashville, McCarron is an affordable, massive forward who can be counted on to win faceoffs. He’s won over 52 percent of his faceoffs through his eight-year career. The biggest holdup with McCarron is that his offensive contributions are limited, especially this season with three goals in Nashville. But if the Senators desperately wanted to make a move and were intrigued about a potential bounce-back, McCarron could be worth taking a flier on.
Luke Kunin, San Jose Sharks, LW
Stats: 61 GP, 11 goals, 18 points
AAV: $2.75 million (UFA 2025)
Kunin’s ceiling is that of a secondary contributor and he’s accomplished that in Minnesota, Nashville and San Jose through his eight-year career. He’s a right-shot forward who would fit in the Senators’ bottom six. His 11 goals would have him tied for sixth on the Senators, just as many as Claude Giroux has to this point in the season and more than Ridly Greig, Michael Amadio, and Noah Gregor just to name a few players.
Anthony Beauvillier, Pittsburgh Penguins, LW
Stats: 62 GP, 13 goals, 20 points
AAV: $1.25 million (UFA 2025)
Beauvillier has bounced around in recent years with very limited production. But in Pittsburgh, he’s reached the double-digit goal plateau for the first time since the 2021-22 season with the New York Islanders. Some shine has worn off the Quebecois forward but he could be worth considering as an addition for his offence.
without looking into their contracts ... Any of the above could replace someone in our bottom 6 and be a decent upgrade. I pay 1$ / month for this you can send me 3 cents when you get around to it
