The Ottawa Senators will head into this season looking to hit that next step. The club is essentially looking to find its next identity following major offseason moves.
That said, the Sens’ roster is far from complete. There should be more changes on the horizon. While we may not really have a sense of what those changes could be, the bottom line is that the Senators need to be ready in case something big comes up.
There will be opportunities this season. It may take a little while to materialize, but they will happen. And when they emerge, the Senators could have a valuable trade chip: Michael Amadio.
Let’s get real about Amadio. He’s not a 30-goal scorer. He’s a decent bottom-six forward who puts up double digits in goals. That’s a valuable skill set, especially for depth guys.
That’s why Amadio could be an attractive piece for a contending club or a rebuilding club looking to bring in reliable veterans to shore up the club.
It’s worth noting that Ottawa isn’t particularly motivated to trade Amadio for the sake of it. There could be a powerful reason why Amadio could find himself on the outside looking in.
Amadio could price himself out of Ottawa
Amadio will be entering the final year of his current three-year pact. His $2.6 million cap hit is by no means onerous, but if Amadio is serious about getting a raise on his next deal, the 30-year-old could price himself out of the Nation’s Capital.
If Amadio is truly set on testing the market next summer, perhaps cashing in on him now might be the best path forward.
Realistically, Amadio could be a good secondary piece in a major trade. For instance, a first-round pick, a prospect, and Amadio could land a top-six forward or a top-four blueliner.
If Amadio ends up on pace for a 20-goal season, the Sens might just be able to flip him at the deadline for other valuable pieces. Those pieces could then become part of other deals to land the sort of assets the Sens need for a strong playoff run next spring.
Senators have two interesting comparables for Amadio
Assuming Amadio has another good season in 2026-27, the Senators might have two interesting comparables.
First, there’s Bobby McMann. McMann was an undrafted prospect who rose through the ranks in Toronto. He had one 20-goal season before really breaking out last season. McMann fetched the Maple Leafs two second-round picks at last season’s deadline.
The other comp to keep in mind is Kiefer Sherwood. The Vancouver Canucks were looking to move Sherwood given his impending UFA status. The San Jose Sharks came calling, paying up two second-round picks and an AHL-level player.
That’s what the Sens could be looking at if they look to trade Amadio straight up. McMann was 29 at the time of his trade, while Sherwood was 30. That’s the same range Amadio is at the moment.
If the Senators play their cards close to their chest, there might just be a team out there with a desperate need for scoring depth. If Steve Staios can pluck something like two second-rounders for Amadio, he would be foolish not to at least consider the move.
Otherwise, the Sens could just treat Amadio as an own rental and figure things out next summer. But that’s a conversation for another day.
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