Ottawa Senators – A power outage hit GM Steve Staios’ free-agency press conference at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday, but the bigger darkness for Ottawa fans is the roster message underneath. With key names reshuffled after Brady Tkachuk’s trade last week and Claude Giro
OTTAWA — The lights went out at the Canadian Tire Centre during GM Steve Staios’ free-agency press conference on Wednesday.
It wasn’t just a symbolic blackout. The power outage interrupted the event in the middle of his remarks, and it felt fitting for a day that left Ottawa fans with the same worry they’ve been carrying all offseason: the team isn’t clearly getting better.
Staios’ “steady” approach—his nickname—is now testing Senators supporters’ patience. Losing Brady Tkachuk’s star and brand status with his trade last week. and the possibility of not retaining local hero Claude Giroux after the club offered him a contract. has created a tough look in a summer poised for major moves.
If the roster is already taking shape for the 2026-27 opening night, it’s without certainty around Giroux. Staios said the spot reserved for the player was not something he’d fill “active today,” adding, “Obviously, that spot is reserved for him (Giroux).”
Staios returned to his theme of taking swings on upside as he addressed the Senators’ moves, saying, “We’ve made it a habit of us trying to get out ahead of things, and not only finding value, but taking more of a swing on upside.”
For Ottawa. those swings include forward William Eklund and one-goal-in-his-final-37-games Andre Burakovsky. plus goaltender Sam Ersson—described in the piece as “one of the worst backups in the league.” Fans also reacted sharply to what the club has done at the position they expected to stabilize most.
Staios acknowledged that fans won’t be able to judge how it all fits immediately. “It’s been a week since I’ve made the trade on Brady. and you have the draft. and so I think it’s a little early to make an assessment on where we’re at. ” he said. He pointed to Ottawa’s available resources. adding. “We’ve put ourselves in a position now where we have great flexibility and draft capital.”.
But Ottawa’s pathway to contention—already difficult after Tkachuk—now feels even less certain.
The Senators have started to accumulate pieces, especially from the Tkachuk trade, which the report says brought prospects and picks. The argument made by critics. laid out without disguise. is straightforward: if Ottawa is pursuing a “winning now” window. why not use the ammunition sooner instead of sitting idle for smaller-scale moves that could have mattered.
One example raised was a potential acquisition of restricted free agent Mavrik Bourque, 24, for a second and a third draft pick from capped-out Dallas—described as something Nashville did—because it would have matched Ottawa’s timeline and added another youngster alongside Eklund.
For now, Ottawa’s additions are heavy on players who are expected to deliver more than they have recently. Burakovsky is talented and previously produced three 40-point seasons, but the report says he stalled “dismally” at the end of last season, and Ottawa is betting on upside.
The same uncertainty follows the Ersson decision.
The report questions why Ottawa traded away a late-round pick for Ersson’s rights only to later make him a free agent by not qualifying him and then sign him in free agency. It also points to recent performance markers: Ersson finished last in the NHL in goals saved above expected in 2024-25 and was fifth-worst last season.
Staios defended the move with internal reasoning tied to what Ottawa wants from its netminding group and what it believes is recoverable.
He said the Senators’ biggest misstep last season was not bringing in a seasoned No. 2 netminder, which contributed to Leevi Merilainen’s poor play that nearly sank the Senators out of the playoffs before James Reimer and a rejuvenated Linus Ullmark saved their season.
Staios then said he believes Ottawa’s defensive system under coach Travis Green gives Ersson a chance to rebound.
He also discussed the salary expectations involved in arbitration, saying the team believed Ersson would get more in that process. “That could have been higher (than $2.2 million),” Staios said. “We hope we’re going to get value in Year 2.”
The report adds another behind-the-scenes piece: Staios said goaltender coach Justin Peters and co-ordinator of goaltending Maciej Szwoch pushed for Ersson. Staios said he feels comfortable building rosters for forwards and defencemen. but admitted he doesn’t have the same depth in goaltending decision-making. saying he has not been a “goalie expert.”.
Ottawa also expects Merilainen to return as the third goaltender with a new contract. The report describes Merilainen as a “Jekyll and Hyde” case—showing a great 12-game audition two seasons ago before falling off a cliff last season. It also compares that risk to waiver-claim Brandon Bussi winning the Cup in Carolina.
In the forward group, the day’s most concrete signing was Nick Cousins. The Senators signed Cousins to a two-year, $1.5875-million contract. The report characterizes him as an “extreme pest” and a rugged checker useful in games, while also insisting he isn’t a “needle mover at all.”
It then lists the Senators’ middle-six depth, describing Ottawa as loaded with middle-six options compared to defencemen. Those named are Ridly Greig, Fabian Zetterlund, Warren Foegele and Shane Pinto.
Giroux remains the hinge point.
Ottawa has offered him a contract, but the report emphasizes that Giroux is going to market. Staios said, “We’ve stated how much we want him back,” and again pointed back to his reserved space for the captain-like presence.
For Senators fans, that’s the part that stings hardest. The report frames Giroux as a massive loss on and off the ice if he leaves, and notes his importance to the team’s locker room and PR department.
Staios. however. is presenting the club as cautious with spending. repeating his stance that the organization won’t chase “shiny new toys.” He argued that the priority should be long-term playoff wins instead of short PR wins on Canada Day. saying. “It’s exciting on day one of July 1 to be able to try and add a player. but we also have the bigger picture in mind.”.
The report supports that general philosophy—saying teams often overpay on free agents and that rarely does a Cup-winning roster come from winning free agency itself—but challenges how it applies here.
It argues re-signing Giroux wouldn’t have been a reach because of his age and the likelihood the term would be short. It also stresses what the math changes if Ottawa keeps Giroux: he would be another really good NHLer, adding needed experience after Tkachuk’s departure.
If Giroux leaves, the report insists Ottawa faces a “massive hole” in both the locker room and on the ice.
In practical terms. it argues Giroux could be swapped for Burakovsky and that would be a downgrade in Ottawa’s top six. It points to last season’s production and style: Giroux had more points than Burakovsky last season and is much better defensively. while Giroux wins draws and Burakovsky is described as an offence-only player.
The worry that hangs over this day isn’t just about one player or one contract. The report says the uncertainty is bigger than it would normally be. It contrasts the last ten days with how past decisions were often easier to rationalize as asset management—moves that. in time. were more likely than not to work out.
Now, after Tkachuk left, it says the Senators’ championship pathway looks bleaker, with a stronger chance of sliding back toward the “mushy middle” seen during the Karlsson era.
Staios’ pitch is patience and flexibility. Ottawa fans are hearing something else—especially in the moment the lights literally went out during his press conference.
Ottawa Senators Steve Staios Brady Tkachuk Claude Giroux William Eklund Andre Burakovsky Sam Ersson Nick Cousins Leevi Merilainen James Reimer Linus Ullmark Travis Green Justin Peters Maciej Szwoch Nick Cousins contract