It is no secret that the Ottawa Senators are looking to upgrade their roster this offseason. After a disappointing playoff run that saw them get swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes, the Senators need to bolster their group.
One of their top needs is another scoring winger, and they have a notable one on their radar. In a recent article for the Ottawa Citizen, Bruce Garrioch reported that the Senators are among the teams interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.
There is no question that DeBrusk would be a nice pickup for the Senators. However, he is not the only Canucks player whom the Senators should consider targeting this summer. Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek would have the potential to be an amazing addition to the Senators' roster, and they should pursue him because of it.
The Senators need to strengthen the right side of their blueline significantly. Because of this, if the Canucks shop Hronek as they continue their rebuild, they must pursue him this offseason.
Hronek would instantly become the Senators' top right-shot defenseman if acquired. He would also be a long-term part of their core, as he has a $7.25 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season. This undoubtedly adds to his appeal.
Where Hronek could fit on the Senators' blueline if acquired
If the Senators landed Hronek from the Canucks, he could be a perfect fit on their top pairing with Jake Sanderson. However, even if he played on the Senators' second pairing with Thomas Chabot, he would greatly improve the Senators' top four if acquired.
Hronek would also give the Senators another clear option for their power play because of his ability to produce offense from the point. His steady defensive play would also give the Senators another defenseman to consider for their penalty kill.
Ultimately, with the Senators looking to be true contenders, Hronek is exactly the kind of strong all-around defenseman that they should look to acquire this summer. It will be interesting to see if they end up making a push for him from here.
