The Ottawa Senators remain busy leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft. The club has already made several high-profile moves, with the next coming down the pipeline as soon as today.
According to a report from Senators insider Bruce Garrioch, the Sens and RFA blueliner Jordan Spence are nearing a new contract. Garrioch reported the deal to be in the four-year range.
#Sens are closing in on a contract extension with Jordan Spence. Anticipate it will be in the four year range. Could be done today.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 26, 2026
While Garrioch did not elucidate on the financials, another insider, Elliotte Friedman, reported the number of the $20 million. He has since confirmed that the deal will be four years, $5 million AAV.
Hearing approximately $20M for Spence https://t.co/kI7O1j31MT
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 26, 2026
So, it seems that the Sens will be signing the 25-year-old to a four-year deal with an AAV of $5 million.
Unless this is somehow a sign-and-trade deal involving another defenseman, it seems that Spence will be staying in the Nation’s Capital for the foreseeable future.
As fans may recall, part of the chatter this offseason purported that the Senators were including Spence as part of a package for an “upgrade” on the right side of the blue line.
That situation is moot now, it seems. While anything can happen leading up to Friday’s first round, it appears Ottawa has decided to keep the up-and-coming blueliner.
Senators might still be looking to upgrade
The Senators have been front and center of chatter this offseason. The most recent rumor posits that Ottawa made a strong push for Mason McTavish. That situation remains unclear as there could be other suitors for the 23-year-old.
But even if the Senators miss out on McTavish, there’s no question that GM Steve Staios will be looking to see what other deals may be out there.
In addition to finding more depth scoring, the Sens could use another right-shot blueliner, preferably of the physical persuasion, and a backup goalie.
That may seem like a tall order considering the relatively thin free-agent market. The deals may hit a brief pause as the NHL draft unfolds.
Once the draft is in the books, the attention will turn to free agency. As such, another wave of moves could be coming down the pipeline in the following weeks.
So, fans should expect the Senators to remain active in the market. Ottawa will need to keep up with other Atlantic Division rivals like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, who have made significant moves this offseason.
In the meantime, keeping Jordan Spence in the fold seems like a solid move. The Senators could use all of the young talent they can gather, as it seems the organization’s competitive window is just beginning to truly open.
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