The eve of the frenzy, and what a busy yet productive weekend for the Senators.
Trade Down
#23 overall draft pick rights traded from Nashville Predators with round a 3rd round pick in the 2025 draft (Kurban Limatov), 67th overall to Ottawa Senators for round 1 pick, 21st overall, in the 2025 draft (Cameron Reid)

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Acquire Jordan Spence
Ottawa traded the 67th overall draft pick rights traded with their own round 6 pick in the 2026 draft to Los Angeles Kings for right hand defenseman Jordan Spence


Simply, Ottawa traded their first; third; and next year's sixth for a first, Hensler, and former LA Kings' defender Jordan Spence. Great management by the Senators with their assets.

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Picks Selected
1 D Logan Hensler [Wisconsin NCAA]
The Minnesota native, one of 15 selected over the weekend, has been considered by some scouts as the biggest "sleeper" pick from the college route in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft; and Ottawa traded down and still managed to get a potential top-four right shooting defender in their prospect pool. He is 6 foot 2 inches tall weighing at 197lbs.

Per Elite Prospects

Hensler is a highly mobile, right-shot defender who plays a relatively safe game. Gap control, angling, surfing across laterally to close space – he pushes attackers outside until there’s no space left. If the aggression fails, his explosiveness and impressive stop-start ability add adaptability to recover off the turnover. In tandem with his aggressive step-up game, he uses a disruptive stick and physical elements like stick lifts, clamps, and perimeter seals.

3 RW Blake Vanek [Minnesota HS]
The son of former NHLer, Thomas Vanek, elected to not attend the draft and see country star musician Morgan Wallen in concert instead.



4 G Lucas Beckman [Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL]


5 LW Dmitry Isayev [Yekaterinburg Auto MHL]



6 LW Bruno Idzan [USHL]



7 G Andrei Trofimov [ Magnitogorsk MHL]

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Giroux Return
The hometown veteran Claude Giroux worked out a bonus loaded contract extension with the Ottawa Senators for the 2025-2026 season. Love this move as this gives Ottawa flexibility this season with a risk for next, but the hunger is with new ownership to get the organization back into the postseason again. Similar to the bonus structure given to veterans of late including Jonathan Towes with the Jets and Jamie Benn with the Stars, Giroux is guaranteed $2M this year alongside a no-movement clause, and a potential to earn up to an additional $2.75M based on performance.

$250K 20
$250K 30
$250K 60 Games
$250K for Playoffs & 50 GP
$500K for Round 1 Win
$250K for Round 2 Win
$500K for Round 3 Win
$500K for winning Stanley Cup

Giroux must play in 50% of playoff games



As it Stands...

Canada Day and Free Agency Frenzy arrive to the NHL with July 1 & the Sens have $8.1M to work with for the open market. Gaudette, Highmore, Cousins, Hamonic, Gilbert, and Forsberg are still unsigned.

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