Free agency is one of the most exciting and craziest times during the hockey year. For the Ottawa Senators, their 2025 free agency will be a crucial one.
After making the playoffs for the first time in eight years, it can help draw free agents to play for the Senators in the future. Ottawa's future is shaping out to be a strong one with captain Brady Tkachuk leading the way.
However, it's important for the Senators to not overspend their money on free agents. At the moment, the Senators have over $15 million in cap space. Rumors will be flying around of which players can sign with other teams, and the Senators have their "dream" free agency according to one writer.
Ottawa solves goal scoring, backup goaltender and depth according to one writer
Yesterday, Bryan Logan of ClutchPoints wrote an article titled "Senators' dream scenario in 2025 NHL Free Agency." In the article, Logan had the Senators signing Nikolaj Ehlers, Dan Vladar and Brandon Tanev to complete the Senators' dream free agency.
For Ehlers, Logan said that it would complete a goal of Ottawa by needing more goal scoring. At 29 years old, Ehlers has been a 10-year staple of the Winnipeg Jets. Ehlers has recorded 520 points in 674 games in his Jets career. In the 2024-25 season, Ehlers' 63 points was the second highest in his career for a single season.
When it comes to goal scoring, Ehlers might not be as big of a goal scorer as some might say. Ehlers has never recorded a season of scoring 30-goals or more, and has never recorded a season of 65 points or more. Logan called Ehlers a "major upgrade" for goal scoring in his article.
Ehlers is one of the top free agents this Summer and could expect over $8 million per year. However, if the Senators do sign Ehlers this free agency, it can show they are eager improve their 97-point season and land big named free agents in the future with Steve Staios as general manager. Re-signing Claude Giroux and adding Ehlers would be two important moves for the Senators to get goal scoring.
For Vladar of the Calgary Flames, Logan mentioned how this would solve the Senators' backup goaltending situation. Anton Forsberg is a free agent and his future in Ottawa is uncertain. However, Leevi Merilainen's 2024-25 season in the AHL and his 12-game stint in the NHL may have the Senators thinking about having him be Linus Ullmark's backup at 22 years old.
In the 2024-25 season at 27 years old, Vladar's goals against average and save percentage weren't better than Forsberg's. Vladar had one more win than Forsberg, but Forsberg recorded one more shutout. Vladar could expect a higher pay than Forsberg this Summer, but his stats weren't necessarily better than Forsberg's stats.
Depth is always crucial for an NHL team, and Logan mentioned how signing Tanev would bring depth for the Senators at 33 years old.
The Senators' depth could be a concern with Nick Cousins and Adam Gaudette both being unrestricted free agents. If the Senators were to sign Tanev, he would bring more physicality than both Cousins and Gaudette. However, Cousins and Gaudette were solid for the Senators in 2024-25.
Ironically back in February, Tanev was rumored to be linked to the Senators for a potential move at the trade deadline. However, Tanev was traded to the Jets at the deadline instead by the Seattle Kraken.
The Senators will need to be active this free agency to build off of their 45-30-7 record in the 2024-25 season. However, being smart with who to acquire in free agency will be just as important to have a better 2025-26 season.