Ottawa Senators Eyeing forward Acquisitions as Trade season Approaches
Ottawa, ON – December 3, 2025 – The Ottawa Senators are positioning themselves as potential buyers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, with a focus on bolstering their forward depth, according to recent reports. The club is demonstrating a “willingness to make some moves sooner than later,” signaling an intent to actively improve their roster for a playoff push.
The Senators’ interest comes as several teams, notably the Nashville Predators, appear poised to become sellers. players like Ryan O’Reilly, Pavel Zacha, Thomas Haula, and Sam Bunting have been identified as potential targets. While O’Reilly represents a high-impact addition – capable of contributing around 50 points alongside strong defensive play – his acquisition cost is projected to be significant, potentially including a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.
Ottawa currently boasts the NHL’s top faceoff percentage at nearly 58% prior to tonight’s game, a statistic that would be further enhanced by adding O’Reilly, a consistently strong faceoff performer. Though, the Senators are also exploring more affordable options like Haula and Bunting, who could provide valuable depth on the third or bottom-6 lines.
The potential for significant roster changes is underscored by recent commentary regarding team leadership, with one report noting a CEO has “made his choices” and now expects results. Elsewhere, speculation is mounting around Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, with some suggesting the Detroit Red Wings should aggressively pursue a trade for him, leveraging their young players and draft picks. Jeff Marek of The Sheet suggested the New Jersey Devils are also a likely destination for Hughes if he becomes available.