The Ottawa Senators are in the midst of one of the most challenging periods in the team’s recent history. The Sens are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and in last place in the Atlantic Division.
The club has entered into desperation territory after losing its starting netminder Linus Ullmark. Ullmark’s indefinite absence due to an undisclosed personal matter prompted the team to sign veteran James Reimer as a stopgap measure.
Now, it looks like the Senators are looking to take one major swing in hopes of salvaging their season. That swing involves Calgary Flames’ impending UFA Rasmus Andersson.
The rumor should come as no surprise, considering half of the league has been looking at Andersson to some extent. But a January 14 piece published by RG Media posits that the Bruins, Red Wings, and Senators are the frontrunners for Andersson.
The Senators may be in tough, trying to land Andersson. According to the piece, the Bruins have offered defenseman Mason Lohrei and a first-round pick as part of the return for Andersson. That situation means the Flames are looking for a defenseman to replace Andersson and a first-round pick.
However, there’s a major catch. The Senators don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Senators forfeited that pick due to the Evgenii Dadonov debacle a couple of years ago.
That said, the Senators may not have the pieces to make the deal. The piece by RG Media made the following simple remarks:
“With regards to the Senators, no names were specified, but by all accounts, a right-shot, top 4 defenseman is still the primary target for the team that is trying to find its way as of late.”
So, it seems that landing Andersson is just another stopgap measure as the Senators look to salvage their season.
Senators Fading Fast in Atlantic Division
The Eastern Conference is wide-open by all accounts this season. However, the Senators are fading fast. Entering Wednesday night’s action, they have 47 points, four points behind the seventh-place Florida Panthers.
While the Senators remain within striking distance of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, six points at this junction in the season is not easy to make up. The Sens will need to go on a run if they are to get back into the race.
The hope would be that someone like Andersson can spark that turnaround.
The Pending Contract Extension Matter
The other major sticking point is Andersson’s contract extension. As mentioned earlier, Andersson is an impending UFA. That situation means he’ll need a new contract for next season.
So, the question begs: Can the Ottawa Senators sign Andersson to a long-term extension? It seems a bit of a wild bet to hope that Andersson signs a long-term extension with a team in flux at the moment.
Of course, the team’s current situation does not preclude anyone from wanting to sign in Ottawa. But one does have to wonder how much such a situation could weigh on Andersson’s decision to re-sign with the Senators.
The deal, otherwise, could prove to be a very costly rental for the Senators.
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