Ottawa Senators' 2026 Draft Plan After Tkachuk Trade

Ottawa acquired the ninth and 25th picks in the 2026 NHL Draft through the Brady Tkachuk trade to the Florida Panthers.

Forward Targets at Ninth Overall

The Senators’ Future Watch ranking already featured three defensemen among its top five prospects, led by Carter Yakemchuk, so selecting another blueliner at ninth carries redundancy risk.

Viggo Bjorck profiles as a dynamic center or winger whose sub-5-foot-11 frame has historically deterred NHL teams despite proven production and noted strength.

Tynan Lawrence offers a two-way center profile after dominating the USHL with Muskegon following an early injury and a midseason NCAA adjustment at Boston University.

Lawrence ranks as the second-best center prospect behind Caleb Malhotra, positioning him as a potential 1B or No. 2 pivot for Ottawa’s middle-six needs.

Keeping both picks rather than packaging them for an immediate roster player allows the front office to address forward depth directly instead of trading away future assets.

The Big Five defensemen are projected to be unavailable by ninth, removing any temptation to reach for a blueliner and reinforcing the forward priority.

High-Reward Gambles at 25th

Tobias Trejbal posted an exceptional USHL rookie season with Youngstown while Brady Knowling stands at 6-foot-5 from the NTDP, creating a viable path to select the first goaltender off the board.

The Senators already list two goalies inside their Future Watch top 10, with Lucas Beckman at seventh and 25-year-old Mads Sogaard at tenth, yet the 25th pick still permits a swing on a higher-ceiling netminder.

Ryan Roobroeck brings size and goal-scoring upside as a left winger recently traded from Niagara to Guelph, where Memorial Cup hosting duties guarantee prominent 2026-27 ice time.

Marcus Nordmark displayed offensive dynamism in Sweden marred by inconsistency that scouts flagged, creating a classic high-risk profile that could rise ten spots with improved reliability.

Center Maddox Dagenais combines physical force and leadership when engaged, supplying another inconsistent but impactful option if the Senators prefer to address the middle.

Rebuild Acceleration Path

The 32nd overall selection further expands Ottawa’s ability to layer multiple swings without exhausting capital on one position.

Trading either first-rounder for an established player remains possible, but retaining both preserves the flexibility to contrast safe skill with boom-or-bust potential.

GM Steve Staios faces a compressed timeline with the draft opening Friday in Buffalo, making pre-draft clarity on these archetypes essential.

By June 2027 the Senators could see two of their Tkachuk-derived selections contributing 40-plus points if they prioritize Bjorck or Lawrence at nine and a goaltender at 25.