What could draft night look like for the Ottawa Senators? Well, there is one guarantee: the Senators will make a selection with the 32nd overall pick.
Starting there, the Senators have a plethora of options they could explore at No. 32, but it feels like they'll be selecting a forward in the first round. The top three options at that spot would be Liam Ruck, Elton Hermansson, and Maddox Dagenais.
Starting with Ruck, you have an extremely skilled forward who scored more than 40 goals last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He would immediately become the best forward prospect in the Senators' pipeline and brings the high-octane offensive ability the organization craves.
Hermansson is a highly skilled winger out of Sweden whose puck skills speak for themselves. He has some consistency issues that may deter teams from selecting him, but there's also a possibility he'll be off the board before No. 32.
Dagenais is a former first overall pick in the QMJHL who has a lot to offer with his combination of skill and physicality. He's a versatile player with a very heavy shot when he gets the opportunity to use it. While he has had a difficult time living up to his draft status in junior, he possesses many traits that should translate well to the NHL. For more options at No. 32, check out the following.
The question marks begin with the 25th overall pick in this year's draft, which was acquired in the Brady Tkachuk trade. It's been speculated that the Senators will attempt to move that pick in order to acquire a top-six forward for the upcoming season.
Drafting the 25th pick
Let's start with who the Senators could select at No. 25. They'll have some excellent options available, including JP Hurlbert, Casey Mutryn, and Nikita Klepov. Hurlbert's numbers jump off the page. The Kamloops Blazers forward and University of Michigan commit recorded 42 goals and 55 assists for 97 points in the WHL. While it may be a stretch for him to still be available at No. 25, adding a player of his calibre would be exactly what the Senators need for the future.
Mutryn, a Boston College commit, had a solid season splitting time between the NTDP and the USHL, recording a combined 25 goals and 37 assists. He was also a key contributor at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship while serving as the team's captain. His 6-foot-3 frame and physical style fit the profile of players the Senators have targeted in recent drafts and could very well target again.
Klepov, a Michigan State commit, played one season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit and dominated, recording 97 points. The Russian winger possesses the relentless drive that many scouts covet in all three zones. He's a physical player who consistently works to get the puck on his stick and create offense. Adding any one of these players would be a significant boost to the Senators' future.
Trading the 25th pick
If the Senators do elect to trade the 25th overall pick, expect general manager Steve Staios to do something very few people see coming. In the past, he has completed trades that caught even the insiders by surprise, and it's likely that could be the case again.
With reports indicating the Senators are no longer among the finalists for McTavish, Staios will likely pivot in another direction. It's difficult to predict exactly where that leads, but some names worth monitoring include Alexis Lafrenière, JJ Peterka, Brock Boeser, Kirill Marchenko, and Jason Robertson, as there have been rumours that Ottawa has shown significant interest in the Dallas Stars winger. Although Robertson did just turn down a whopping eight-year, $15 million contract offer through a sign-and-trade to the Seattle Kraken.
Things are very fluid, and there’s plenty of time for Dallas to explore its options, but sources say Ottawa is making a big push for Jason Robertson. If a trade cannot be ironed out and he hits July 1 as an RFA, the Senators could present him with a significant offer sheet. https://t.co/8HMfW5H5QD
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 21, 2026
Senators sign Jordan Spence
The Senators also signed right-shot defenceman Jordan Spence to a four-year, $5 million contract, which may ultimately take them out of the market for another right-shot defenceman. However, that remains to be seen.
Hearing approximately $20M for Spence https://t.co/kI7O1j31MT
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 26, 2026
Multiple ways the Senators could acquire Dorofoyev
One storyline to watch is whether the Senators consider making a move for two-time 30-goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas is facing a salary-cap crunch, and Dorofeyev could be a prime offer-sheet candidate. As a result, the Golden Knights may consider trading him beforehand in order to recoup cost-controlled assets in the form of draft picks or prospects.
There are a lot of avenues the Senators will be exploring in the lead-up to the 2026 NHL Draft, and let's hope there are a few fireworks along the way.
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