Recent reports suggest that the Ottawa Senators are actively pursuing a forward before the March 7 trade deadline, with Ryan Donato of the Blackhawks and Brandon Tanev of the Kraken among the players they’re targeting, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.
Ottawa’s urgency to make a move stems from two key factors: a shrinking pool of available trade options after several major deals in the past week and the loss of Nick Cousins, who recently underwent knee surgery, potentially sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
Tanev would fill a bottom-six role similar to Cousins, but with more offensive potential, while Donato could provide an additional scoring option for head coach Travis Green on the second line alongside Drake Batherson and Josh Norris during a career-best season.
The 28-year-old Donato is set to become an unrestricted free agent and is expected to secure a raise from his current $2MM AAV after registering 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 50 games this season. Despite averaging only 14:47 of ice time per game, Donato leads Blackhawks forwards in even-strength goals and has a strong CF%. His scoring ability and versatility make him an appealing target for Ottawa, particularly with their center depth as it is.
Ottawa could likely pay a price similar to what the Sharks and Penguins received for Mikael Granlund and Marcus Pettersson over the weekend. While Ottawa doesn’t have an immediate need for Donato as a center, his ability to slide into that role in case of injuries could be an important asset.
The Senators’ strategy might also hinge on the performance of veteran winger David Perron, who is getting an opportunity to play alongside Norris and Batherson after returning from a personal leave and recovering from a back injury. If Perron shows improved production, Ottawa may lean toward acquiring a more physical winger like Tanev. If not, bolstering their offense with a player like Donato could become the priority.
Tanev, whose cap hit is $3.5MM, also has a 10-team no-trade list, giving him some control over his destination. Though his offensive output has dipped in recent years, Tanev remains one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards, leading Seattle in blocked shots and ranking high in hits. His strong defensive presence could provide valuable depth for Ottawa.
The Senators should be able to acquire Donato without the need for salary retention, but they may need some assistance from the Kraken to make room for Tanev’s cap hit. With approximately $3.33MM in cap space, the Senators have some flexibility as they approach the trade deadline.
