The Ottawa Senators made the playoffs last season, but in the offseason, Ottawa has been relatively quiet.
The Senators are hoping for their young players to take another step forward. However, Ottawa still could use an upgrade on offense, and NHL analyst Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report links the Senators to trading for Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“The Senators finally played their way back into a playoff spot in 2024-25, earning their first trip to the postseason since their 2016-17 Eastern Conference Finals run,” Gretz wrote. “They have a strong core group at the top of the lineup, an excellent goalie and a solid top-four on defense, but they are still lacking a little more offense. Another bonafide top-six scorer could help push them from “playoff team” to “fringe contender” in the Eastern Conference.”
“The Senators still have a little more than $4.2 million in salary cap space at their disposal, so it would not require a lot of maneuvering or financial gymnastics to make it work,” Gretz added. “Only two players on the Senators scored more than 25 goals during the 2024-25 season, and nobody scored more than Rakell’s 35. They could really use another finisher like him at the top of their lineup. The big hang-up might be Ottawa’s lack of a first-round pick in 2026 and a weak farm system that is lacking in top prospects.”
As Gretz notes, the Senators may not have the assets to get a deal done for Rakell. But, in the hockey sense, a trade for Rakell makes a lot of sense.
Rakell has three years left on his six-year, $30 million deal with the Penguins. He recorded 35 goals and 35 assists for 70 points in 81 games.
How Would Rakell Fit With the Senators?
If Ottawa does trade for Rakell, he would be a top-line player and add some more offense to the lineup.
Currently, the Senators’ first-line right winger is Fabian Zetterlund, but he can play all over the lineup, so Ottawa could use an upgrade there.
Rakell would be a great first-line right winger alongside Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle to add more offense. Adding Rakell would push everyone else down the lineup and make Ottawa a better offensive team, and that much harder to play against.
Rakell could also play on the top line or second power play unit and be a goal scorer on the power play. The star winger recorded 9 power play goals and 19 power play points for a bad Penguins team last season.
Senators GM Expected a Quiet Offseason
Entering the offseason, Senators general manager Steve Staios expected a quiet offseason.
Ottawa’s big offseason addition was signing Lars Eller to be their fourth-line center and trading for defenseman Jordan Spence. It was a need, but Staios expected a lackluster offseason.
“It was comforting going into this year, where we were looking for one specific area that if we could improve in it, we would,” Staios said. “We had our sights set on a certain individual, and it was Lars. If not, then we would’ve looked at other avenues to be able to do it. But we’re excited to have him.”
The Senators also re-signed Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins.
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