Jj Peterka is the kind of target Ottawa can now chase, because the Senators added three first-round picks and a future second-round pick in the Brady Tkachuk trade. Steve Staios said the club is not backing off after dealing its captain, and the next move will be shaped by a pile of draft capital and more than $25 million in cap space.
Staios Keeps Ottawa Open
“It’s been robust since the deal happened,” Staios said at a news conference inside Canadian Tire Centre. “This team is moving in the right direction.”
He added, “I have no intention of this team taking a step back,” before saying, “We’re active, and we’re open.” Ottawa needs that posture now. The trade with the Florida Panthers gave the Senators room to work, and it did so immediately after Brady Tkachuk asked out.
Mason McTavish Joins The List
Mason McTavish has been part of the speculation since last summer, when he was already working through a new contract. He grew up in Carp, Ont., and the fit is obvious on paper: he would be leaned upon as a top-six winger if Ottawa were able to pry him loose.
McTavish signed a six-year deal worth $42 million with a $7 million cap hit. That kind of number gives Ottawa a cleaner way to think about the market now that it has extra picks, because the Senators can pursue help without waiting for a slow reset to run its course.
Kyrou And Robertson Complicate It
Jordan Kyrou offers a different problem. He is a three-time 30-goal scorer with an eight-year deal worth $65 million and an $8.1 million cap hit, and he would fit beside Tim Stützle if Ottawa could make it happen. But he has a no-trade clause, and he would need to waive it to come to Canada.
Jason Robertson brings another layer. He had 45 goals and 96 points in 82 games in 2025-26, and he is a restricted free agent in 2026 who is arbitration-eligible. Robertson is also a three-time 40-goal scorer and a one-time 100-point-getter, but Chris Johnston noted that he might not want to commit long-term to Ottawa.
That is the friction in Ottawa’s new position. The Senators have the picks, the cap space, and the willingness to stay active, but the target has to match the price. Three first-round picks and a future second-round pick give the club room to chase a bigger name or several smaller upgrades, and the market will now decide whether that becomes McTavish, Kyrou, Robertson, or something else entirely.
