The Ottawa Senators are reluctantly getting an early start on their summer. If it were up to the club, they would still be playing this spring. Alas, the Carolina Hurricanes had other ideas.
Be that as it may, the Senators are now preparing for the next step in developing the organization into a perennial playoff contender. With back-to-back postseason appearances, there is an appetite to take that next step forward.
But making the leap won’t necessarily be an easy task. That’s why management will have to focus on making the right moves to get to championship level.
So, here are three bold predictions for the Ottawa Senators’ 2026 offseason.
Top 3 Ottawa Senators bold predictions in 2026 offseason
Senators will push for a goalie
Goaltending wasn’t necessarily a problem for the Senators this season. Linus Ullmark played well when he was in the crease. In the postseason, he was solid. Ullmark kept the Sens in the series, even if the offence just couldn’t pick him up.
That said, the backup role was a bit of an issue. Fortunately, James Reimer stepped in and solidified the situation. Reimer, however, is 37 and may not be around for very long. Leevi Merilainen may not be ready to be a full-time NHL goalie.
That situation could force the Senators to target another goaltender. But this target won’t just be a backup to help Ullmark. With a couple of top-flight goalies potentially available, the Senators may swing for the fences.
One name that could be on the market this summer is St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington. While there is no apparent indication that the Blues want to move Binnington, it might seem inevitable.
If St. Louis is willing to take calls on Binnington, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear the Senators kick the tires. An Ullmark-Binnington tandem could be lights-out. If that’s the case, Ottawa could suddenly become a major player in the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa to target goalie with first-round pick
The drama that saw the Senators recover their 2026 first-round pick was nothing short of a Hollywood movie. The Sens got the pick back but had to settle for it being the 32nd selection.
Since they can’t trade it or move it, well, the Sens are locked into the final pick in the first round. With goaltending being an issue at this point for the organization, it makes sense that the club could target a goalie with that pick.
The Athletic projects the best goalie in the 2026 NHL Draft as Tobias Trejbal of the USHL. The best comparable for Trejbal is current Colorado Avalanche net minder MacKenzie Blackwood. That’s not a bad comparison, though the overall scouting report lists the 6’4” goalie as “average.”
But when looking at the grander scheme of things, the Senators need a solid goaltending prospect. Ullmark won’t play forever. Merilainen may develop into a full-time NHL netminder, with Mads Sogaard not really looking like a sure thing. Jackson Parsons may get a look this season, while Lucas Beckman might still be some time away.
Since the Senators are flush with young blueliners and forwards, this year might be the right time to take a chance on a goalie in the first round. The only caveat may be Trejbal coming off the board before the Sens get a chance to take him.
Claude Giroux will call it quits
Claude Giroux has been one of the most noticeable faces of the Senators' resurgence. But at 38, there is no guarantee he’ll be back next season. While he hinted at his desire to return in 2026-27, there’s no telling if the 1,300-game veteran will have enough left in the tank.
Giroux has not shown any signs of slowing down. But then again, it might be time for the 22nd overall pick from the 2006 NHL Draft to move on. The desire to finally win a Stanley Cup may motivate him to play one more season. If that’s really an itch that needs a major scratch, his best bet might be to seek another club closer to a Cup.
That seems unlikely. If Giroux comes back next season. He’ll likely do it in Ottawa. Otherwise, the future Hall of Famer may be looking ahead to the next chapter of his life.
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