NHL Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators eye Aaron Ekblad as top defensive target amid Nick Jensen injury concerns
Senators shift offseason focus to Aaron Ekblad (Image via AP)
The Ottawa Senators are heading into a pivotal offseason with a clear priority—bolstering their defense. With Nick Jensen's injury casting doubt over his availability, the team is now targeting elite right-shot defenseman Aaron Ekblad as a potential game-changing acquisition.
Senators shift offseason focus to blue line with $60 million defenseman Aaron Ekblad at the top of their wishlist
The Ottawa Senators are expected to be aggressive this offseason as they look to solidify their defensive core—particularly on the right side. With veteran defenseman Nick Jensen undergoing surgery earlier this week for an undisclosed lower-body injury, the team's search for a reliable right-shot defenseman has taken center stage. While Jensen hopes to return by training camp, the uncertainty surrounding his recovery has left Ottawa little choice but to explore other options.
Enter Aaron Ekblad. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Senators have set their sights on the Florida Panthers' star defenseman, who is set to hit the open market as a pending unrestricted free agent. Ekblad is wrapping up an eight-year, $60 million deal and is widely considered the top right-shot defenseman available this offseason.
As Pagnotta notes, 'Everybody is looking for that kind of defenseman.
If you have them, you want to keep them, and if you're looking for one, they're hard to find.' That scarcity is precisely why the Senators are pushing to land someone of Ekblad's caliber.
Senators also exploring trade routes for right-side defensive help
While Ekblad remains the prime free-agent target, the Senators are also reportedly monitoring trade options. Among those linked to Ottawa are Calgary's Rasmus Andersson and Philadelphia's Rasmus Ristolainen—both of whom could provide the right-handed depth Ottawa seeks if Florida retains Ekblad or another team swoops in first.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Citizen has speculated that Jensen's injury could be related to his hip or knee, although the team has yet to provide specifics. What's clear, however, is that the Senators cannot afford to start the 2025–26 season short-staffed on defense—especially alongside cornerstone blue liner Thomas Chabot.
Also Read:
Why was Brad Marchand suspended mid-game but no penalty given for Andrei Svechnikov's hit on Sergei Bobrovsky?
As another league executive told the Citizen, 'If they're going to get one, they're going to have to play a heavy price.' With a premium on right-shot defensemen and Ottawa's urgent need, this summer could prove pivotal for the franchise's future.
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