The Ottawa Senators are about to begin a four-game home stand against the Detroit Red Wings tonight at 7 p.m. ET. With currently having a 10-12-2 record, the 2024-25 season is close to being a lost one for the Senators.
If there's one team that is in Stanley Cup conversations already to no surprise in the Western Conference, it's the Dallas Stars with a 16-9-0 record. However, the Stars suffered a huge blow to their lineup yesterday.
Tyler Seguin will be out Stars lineup for 4-6 months due to needing to have hip surgery. The Stars also lost last night 3-2 to the Los Angeles Kings, and the loss showed just how important Seguin's impact is. The Stars will be in need of finding a forward that could make up Seguin's offensive production, and the Senators have forwards on their roster that could draw interest from the Stars.
Senators could be a team that the Stars call with interested in trading for a forward with Seguin now out 4-6 months
If some may have forgotten, the Senators and Stars are familiar with one another on a big trade occurring. Ten years ago, the Senators traded away fan favorite and then captain Jason Spezza to the Stars. The trade sent shock waves around the NHL.
Seguin had recorded 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) before needing hip surgery. With Seguin now out for a long time, the Stars could definitely be interested in trading for a productive forward that can produce the offense that Seguin had provided. The Senators have three forwards on their roster that the Stars could be interested in trading for.
3. Shane Pinto
This season has been a big let down for Shane Pinto. After recording 27 points last season after serving a 41-game suspension, Pinto has disappointed this season with recording just three points. A change of scenery could be on the watch for the 24-year-old.
The potential is still there for Pinto, but the Senators haven't been able to see it this season. A fresh start in Dallas could be a possibility for Pinto.
Pinto will have one more year on his contract at $3.75 million, and will be a restricted free agent. With a reasonable salary of a contract at 24 years old, Pinto could be a name to watch out for a trade with Dallas in it.
2. Adam Gaudette
Sens fans have loved Adam Gaudette this season for a player that came into this season on a one-year, $775,000 contract at 28 years old.
Gaudette has 13 points this season, but 12 of his points are goals. Gaudette's 12 goals is second on the Senators behind Brady Tkachuk. For a player that needed to revitalize his career on a cheap contract, Gaudette has been phenomenal this season. Gaudette needs one more goal to set a new career-high for goals in a single season.
However, Gaudette has become a trade bait piece with his surprising season. Gaudette has the ability to play on the powerplay as well.
Gaudette's cheap contract might draw interest from a lot of teams, and the Stars could definitely be one of the teams interested. With his surprising season of being able to score goals, Gaudette has become a top trade target on the Senators roster.
1. Claude Giroux
There's no doubt with his experience, leadership and offensive production, the number one trade target on the Senators roster is 36-year-old Claude Giroux. With still not winning a Stanley Cup in his career and the Stars being in Stanley Cup conversation, the Stars' interest in Giroux may have went up drastically with Seguin out for a significant amount of time.
Giroux has 17 points this season. To go with his 17 points, Giroux has the ability to play the powerplay and be a top six forward that plays big minutes. Those attributes would draw interest from Dallas. With Dallas already having a deep team in depth, adding Giroux would make the depth stronger.
Giroux entered this season as the top trade bait piece on the Senators roster with being on an expiring contract at $6.5 million.
The Stars have gotten off to a strong start this season and the Senators have disappointed thus far. The Senators have pieces on their roster that could draw interest from the Stars in need of finding another player to fill in Seguin's role.