Senators Still Have a Bright Future After Brady Tkachuk Trade

The Ottawa Senators made one of the NHL’s biggest trades in recent memory on June 21, 2026, but they were on the selling end of it. Former captain Brady Tkachuk will be joining his older brother, Matthew, in Sunrise with the Florida Panthers.

In return, Ottawa opted for draft picks: the No. 9 and 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a second-rounder in 2027, and a protected first-rounder in 2029. Though receiving three first-round picks in a single trade is basically unheard of, the consensus is that the Senators are on the losing end of this blockbuster.

While it’s discouraging to lose a pivotal star player for draft picks before what you hoped would be a contending season, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Senators have a relatively young and still very formidable core. Now, they’re equipped with high-end draft capital.

A Look at the Senators’ Core

It’s easy to have a negative mindset right now. The Senators haven’t won a playoff series since 2017, and were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes this past April. If this team isn’t a contender with its captain, why would it be without him?

That’s a fair question. But the Senators’ core players are relatively young—between the ages of 23 and 25—with absolutely no signs of slowing down. In fact, some of their best seasons may be yet to come.

The heart of this core, the way I see it, is the defence. Jake Sanderson is emerging as a superstar, showcasing star impacts at both ends of the ice. Jordan Spence was excellent in a variety of roles, including as the team’s No. 1 blueliner late in the season. Finally, while Carter Yakemchuk is a bit too young at this stage to make a huge impact, he has loads of two-way upside that should start to be realized in 2026-27.

Those are just the younger guys. Thomas Chabot, 29, remains a terrific top-four player, and Artem Zub, 30, is a good presence on the right side. With endless skill and shutdown ability, this defence is one of the league’s best. If the goaltending can take a step, this Tkachuk-less Senators team should probably improve.

Then, you have the offence. Again, losing Tkachuk is a tough blow, but there’s a lot to like here. For starters, the centre corps are elite. You could argue that Tim Stützle, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto are all top-line calibre guys, yet they’re on one team—and all under the age of 26.

The wings could use some help, but Drake Batherson had a productive 2025-26 campaign, Claude Giroux remains a good middle-six option if he re-signs in Ottawa, and Michael Amadio is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. There’s some depth here, too, with Ridly Greig, Fabian Zetterlund, and to a lesser extent, Warren Foegele.

All in all, yes, the Senators need help on the wing. But they’re only a couple of pieces away from being a true contender in the East, the way I see it. Fortunately for them, they have a top-10 draft choice and plenty of other quality picks at their disposal.

Senators Should Explore All Options With No. 9 Pick

With that said, it may seem like a given that the Senators should trade the No. 9 pick. Players in the 2026 class should take about five to reach their primes, and about seven to hit their peak. By that point, this “young core” will be in its 30s. There’s an argument to be made that keeping the pick is counterintuitive.

But player primes aren’t universal. If the Senators’ scouting staff believes a can’t-miss prospect is available at ninth overall and trade offers for the pick are underwhelming, the decision here should be obvious. You take the player.

Unless a high-end top-six winger is on the table, such as Jason Robertson or Jordan Kyrou, the Senators might be better off staying put. One prospect I think would be a great fit in Ottawa is 17-year-old left-winger Wyatt Cullen.

Cullen, to me, is everything the Senators need. He’s confident, incredibly skilled, creative, deceptive, and competitive with seamless skating ability. My projection for him is, fittingly, a high-end top-six winger. He has the potential to be really special.

Suffice it to say, there’s no easy answer for Ottawa here. The team will have to deeply ponder what to do with the No. 9 pick. The decision is massive.

Trading Other Picks Could Take Ottawa to the Next Level

I don’t have the same hesitations about the Senators’ other draft choices. They’re forced to keep their 32nd-overall pick, so that’s a wash, but the other first-rounders—and that 2027 second-rounder—should be shopped.

As we know, it’s hard to hit on picks after the top 10. Courtesy of Evolving-Hockey’s data, there have only been three forwards drafted at 25^th or 32^nd overall—the Senators’ other first-rounders this year—to have a season averaging at least 14 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time since 2007-08. It’s challenging to find a player who can be in the top half of your lineup at this range.

The Senators, thus, should be actively looking to trade these picks. Look at the K’Andre Miller deal from last summer, where the Hurricanes dealt a No. 26 pick, a 2027 second-rounder, and prospect Scott Morrow for the 26-year-old. Ottawa has the assets to replicate that deal—one that helped transition Carolina from contender to juggernaut status.

Losing Tkachuk is a devastating blow. But things shouldn’t be all doom and gloom in the nation’s capital. If general manager Steve Staios is smart with his newfound assets, it’s not a reach to say this blockbuster could be the best thing for the Senators.