As the start of the 2024-25 season is less than one month away, the Ottawa Senators have a young roster that is destined to catch the league by surprise. The team will be led by their superstar duo of captain Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. Another player to keep an eye on all year for the Senators as an underrated player is Drake Batherson.
However, even with a roster that is mostly young, the roster still has a good roster filled with aging veterans. Having veterans on a team that can help influence and lead young players is important to any roster.
Unfortunately, most of the veterans Ottawa has can become trade bait if the team is out of playoff contention by the trade deadline. Contending teams will be calling Ottawa about potentially making a trade for players that are trade bait, and Ottawa has significant players who could be traded.
6 Senators who can become easy trade bait
Most players become trade bait if their contracts are running out and they can get traded to a playoff team. Many players have been traded to be a team's missing piece to their playoff roster. The Senators are no strangers to this as last season the team traded Vladimir Tarasenko to the Florida Panthers. Tarasenko ended up winning the 2024 Stanley Cup with the Panthers.
The Senators currently have six players who can become easy trade bait for a contending team at the trade deadline. The Senators can still get good value in return if the team was to trade them.
6. Anton Forsberg
When Anton Forsberg had a solid 2021-22 season for the Senators, it seemed the Senators finally found their top goaltender. Unfortunately, Forsberg has struggled the past two seasons and is now the backup.
Forsberg will have his contract run out in 2025. If Forsberg doesn't play well as a backup, the Senators could seek to shop him. There could be another team that draws interest and see if a new system and team is better for Forsberg.
Entering this season, Forsberg needs to make the Senators trust him again. If Forsberg is underperforming this season, the Senators could seek to shop him for a better backup goaltender at the trade deadline.
The Senators could also trade Forsberg and call up Leevi Merilainen or Mads Sogaard to have as the backup goaltender.
5. Nick Jensen
The Senators made a trade to acquire defenseman Nick Jensen from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick and defenseman Jakob Chychrun. However, Jensen will have the clock ticking on him to perform well in Ottawa.
Jensen will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. At $4.05 million per year, Jensen's contract is definitely worthy of trading.
Jensen has been a steady defensive defenseman that can block shots, hit players and play the penalty kill. If the Senators are out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, Jensen's name is one that can seek interest from playoff contending teams.
At 33, Jensen also is able to provide veteran leadership to a team. Jensen is another player on the Senators that can be trade bait with his contract and able to play defense.
4. Nick Cousins
Nick Cousins spent the last two seasons playing for the Florida Panthers but only in 12 games for the Panthers in their 2024 run to the Stanley Cup championship. Cousins was recently signed to a one-year deal with the Senators at $800,000 on Aug. 29. However, he did become trade bait by signing a one-year deal.
Having players on one-year deals always puts them as trade bait to a contender. Cousins does bring his Stanley Cup-winning mentality to a young team like the Senators which haven't made the playoffs since 2017, but Cousins can be moved to a contending team by the deadline if the Senators are out of playoff contention.
The cheap contract of Cousins is worthy for a player who only scored 15 points last season. The Senators could also try and move Cousins and a draft pick or two for a better player if the team is in playoff contention as well.
Cousins needs to have a better season than last season in Florida. A fresh start could be perfect for Cousins in Ottawa, but he has become trade bait with signing a one-year deal.
3. David Perron
The biggest free agent signing the Senators did this free agency by signing veteran David Perron on a two-year, $8 million deal. Perron recorded 103 points over the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The Senators got a worthy contract for Perron.
However, Perron is an easy trade bait piece. Despite being 36 years old, Perron is still able to produce points and provide leadership for a team. Perron will be a valuable leader to the Senators, but he can become trade bait.
Perron's contract for his point production makes him a trade bait piece. If the Senators are out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, Perron will be a player on the Senators that can draw interest from teams. Perron will have one year left on his contract at a very fair price of $4 million in 2025-26.
2. Linus Ullmark
The Senators have had major goaltending issues for the past seven years, so the team made a trade with the Boston Bruins to acquire 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark. Unfortunately, Ullmark has become a trade bait piece even after the Senators traded for him.
Ullmark is set to make $5 million this season and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Taking on Ullmark's expiring contract was the biggest risk for the Senators. One thing the Senators don't want is Ullmark to be a one-year rental when the team traded away a 2024 first-round draft pick.
If the Senators are out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, Ullmark can become a trade bait piece, and teams in playoff contention would be interested in a goaltender. With no contract extension for Ullmark as well, it also puts him at trade bait.
Ullmark will be the key factor to determine Ottawa's success this season, but he has become a trade bait piece. If Ullmark performs well this season, he could demand big money this Summer.
1. Claude Giroux
Without a doubt, Claude Giroux is the number one player on the Senators roster who can become a trade bait piece. Giroux could be in the same situation as he was in 2022 with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Giroux is on the final year of his contract at $6.5 million. Giroux is still able to provide offensive talent and leadership at 36 years old. However, being on an expiring contract at 36 years old, who provides offense and leadership, and for a player who hasn't won a Stanley Cup, Giroux will be the biggest trade bait piece on the Senators if they're out of playoff contention by the trade deadline.
In 2022, the Flyers traded Giroux when he was on the final year of his contract to the Panthers. The Senators can do the same with Giroux if the team is out of playoff contention.
If the Senators were to trade Giroux at the deadline, the return for him could be great, but the Senators know how important Giroux contributes for the team with his offense and leadership.