Senators Target Right-Shot Upgrade After Spence Disappointment

The Ottawa Senators signaled they would have no problem moving Jordan Spence after one season of underwhelming performance on the right side.

Offseason Priority on Right Side

Irf Gaffar and Dave Pagnotta reported on the DFO Rundown that the Senators want a top-four right-shot defenseman who is mobile, versatile and brings physicality. The team views this addition as the primary focus ahead of any top-six forward pursuit under general manager Steve Staios.

Spence arrived from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a draft pick yet failed to secure a consistent role. Pagnotta noted the organization explored trading him before the 2026 deadline because of performance shortfalls.

The right side has lacked stability since the departure of prior options, leaving the club dependent on left-shot or two-way pieces filling in. Acquiring a dedicated right-shot player would allow natural pairings and reduce the need for frequent line juggling.

A successful signing or trade would immediately elevate the second pairing and provide insurance if injuries occur on the top three. Historical precedents show teams that address right-shot shortages before training camp post higher points percentages in the following season.

Defensive Rotation Exposed in Playoffs

Outside Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub and Thomas Chabot the Senators relied on a four-through-six rotation that included Jordan Spence, Nick Jensen, Nikolas Matinpalo and Tyler Kleven. This group produced inconsistent results throughout the 2025-26 regular season.

Jensen returned from hip resurfacing surgery but did not regain his prior form, forcing Spence and Matinpalo into more minutes than planned. Kleven showed flashes yet fell short of the expected second-year jump, according to Julian McKenzie on the Full Press Hockey Podcast.

The rotation proved costly in round one against the Carolina Hurricanes, where defensive lapses at the lower pairings contributed to the series loss. McKenzie highlighted that the number-four spot required clear improvement before the postseason began.

Fixing the right side first would stabilize the entire group and allow Sanderson and Zub to focus on shutdown duties rather than compensating for weaker partners. Without this move the same vulnerabilities remain heading into 2026-27.

Path Forward for 2026-27

Staios has identified the right-shot upgrade as the clearest path to a deeper playoff run. The target profile emphasizes mobility for transition play and physicality to handle heavy minutes against top competition.

Internal options such as Matinpalo remain depth pieces rather than long-term solutions at the top-four level. External additions via free agency or trade therefore become essential before training camp opens.

Success on this front would also free cap and roster flexibility for the secondary forward addition the club still desires. The blue-line priority takes precedence because defensive structure underpins every other area of improvement.

Unless the right-shot acquisition occurs this summer the Senators risk repeating the 2025-26 pattern of first-round disappointment.