The Ottawa Senators are two wins away from being in the front of the wild card race. The team has had plenty of ups and downs this season but now they have to find a way to be consistent in their play. The season is winding down and the Senators have to play catch up. With a few holes on the roster and free agents looming in the offseason, is Ottawa's General Manager Steve Staios desperate to make a move?
Senators needs at the deadline
Ottawa currently is tied with the New York Rangers and one point behind wild card leader, the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Senators have a short winning streak from being at the top but the roster has some voids to fill. They could use another forward who plays physically and has some grit due to the loss of Nick Cousins, who is out with a knee injury. Ottawa could also use a depth defenseman with the loss of Trent Kleven, who is out with a lower-body injury.
The Senators may only be a piece or two away from making some noise late in the season
They are a team that is right there but cannot seem to get over the hump. Ottawa has a playoff-type roster that has scoring, defense, and physical players that are built for playoff hockey. They need to get there first.
While the Senators may not need much help to upgrade their roster, they have some players who could be had due to their contractual status after the season. Some quality players are on the list who could bring a nice return if dealt.
Ottawa should be buyers on Friday, not sellers. They are in the thick of a wild Atlantic Division for a playoff spot so selling pieces off may not be the best idea. They need to be buyers and there are plenty of names floating around who may be on the market.
With the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers already making moves, Staios needs to go for it now. He has players and assets to make several moves to get this team closer to a playoff spot. Although he has been somewhat quiet on the trade front since he became general manager, he now has the power to make a bold move or two to improve this team.
Was he waiting for this moment to make a big splash? Regardless, now is the time to go big or go home. They are not guaranteed to be in this position next season as the roster may look completely different.