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Going, going, gone! If Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios is in fact chasing right-shot defensemen, that market is shrinking rapidly.
Nick Blankenburg (Colorado), Tyler Myers (Dallas), MacKenzie Weegar (Utah) all swapped teams Wednesday, which ended the evening with St. Louis Blues veteran blueliner Colton Parayko contemplating a move to Buffalo. Parayko possesses a full no-move clause, and it’s his perogative if he wishes to become a Sabre.
While it was doubtful the Senators were in on Parayko at any time, they were reportedly spoke to the Calgary Flames on occasion, attempting to find common ground on an acquisition of Weegar per Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.
The Senators need for a second pair right d-man dates back to Nick Jensen’s offseason hip surgery. A work-horse last season, Jensen played through the majority of the 2025-25 campaign through injury.
Jordan Spence was acquired at the Draft from the Los Angeles Kings as a stop-gap, buying time for Jensen’s recovery. However, the 35-year-old hasn’t been able to consistently reach his level of play from last season among the top four on the Senators’ back end. And Spence is more suited as a third pair, where he plays regularly alongside Tyler Kleven.
Thus the search for a blueliner to slide in with Thomas Chabot remains ongoing.
With this in mind, here’s eight right-shot defensemen who may be Senators’ targets for this Friday’s Trade Deadline:
Dylan DeMelo – Winnipeg Jets
Age 32 – Contract status – Two years remaining at $4.9M AAV – 10-Team No Trade
A low maintenance d-man, DeMelo played 126 games for the Ottawa Senators after being acquired in the 2013 Erik Karlsson trade with the San Jose Sharks. DeMelo was dealt at the 2020 trade deadline to the Jets in exchange for a third-round pick which became goalie Leevi Merilainen. The London, ON resident continues to play a steady game. DeMelo is often on the positive side of analytic stats and is largely responsible for the growth of his defense partner Dylan Samberg.
Justin Faulk – St. Louis Blues
Age 33 – Contract status – One year remaining at $6.5M AAV – 15-Team No Trade
There were unsubstantiated rumblings the Senators checked in one Faulk at one juncture this season. Offensively, Faulk is still posting solid numbers. With 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists), the 15-year veteran is in the midst of his most prolific campaign since he reached 50 points three seasons ago. The native of Minnesota averages 22:30 of ice time per game. Faulk has averaged under 21 minutes in only one season of his NHL career. Having never played for a Canadian-based team, one wonders if he’d waive to come to Ottawa?
Dougie Hamilton – New Jersey Devils
Age 32 – Contract status – Two years remaining at $9M AAV – Full No Move Clause
While Hamilton carries a substantial cap hit, his actual salary dips to $8.4M next season and $5.25M in the final year of his seven-year deal. It’s no secret the Devils and Hamilton are mutually seeking to cut ties. For New Jersey, it’s mainly due to monetary reasons. Hamilton has averaged over 40 points per season throughout his career, and a high of 72 just three years ago. Growing up in Toronto and an Ontario League graduate, Hamilton would assuredly welcome a return to his home province. However, the issue remains, would the Devils take on a form of retention on his contract.
Simon Nemec – New Jersey Devils
Age 22 – Contract status – Pending restricted free agent
Selected second overall in the 2022 Entry Draft, Nemec is due to be paid this summer. It wouldn’t shock if the Slovakian Olympian signs a new contract valued in the $5-7 million range. Coming into his own this season, Nemec is starting to display signs of becoming an upper-tier defenseman. The caveat is, the Devils prefer to not trade him, but will if they can secure a top six forward in exchange. Have to give to get in Nemec’s case.
Nick Perbix – Nashville Predators
Age 26 – Contract status – One year remaining at $2.75M AAV
Perbix isn’t a name one thinks of when perusing right-shot defenseman, though he fits the bill of a second pair. In the first year of a two-year contract, Signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Lightning, Perbix is currently saddled on the Predators’ second D-pairing with Nic Hague on his line. The 6′ 3″ 202-pounder will not wow you with offense (three goals, six assists), but provides a steady shutdown role, averaging 19:57 per game. But with his low cap hit, will the Predators hold interest in moving him.
Risto Ristolainen – Philadelphia Flyers
Age 31 – Contract status – One year remaining at $5.1M AAV
with one year remaining on his contract, there’s rumblings around the league, Ristolainen can be acquired for the right price. And that is currently a first-round pick per reports. A capable blueliner, the biggest knock on the Finn, can he stay healthy? Injuries have followed Ristolainen throughout his 12-plus year NHL career. This season he’s been limited to 29 games, and has played more than 80 only once. The big Finn had a stellar Olympics and has excelled in the games since the break. Philadelphia has reportedly indicated a willingness to retain cap on Ristolainen and may even sweeten it further if the trade includes a center or defense prospect who is close to being NHL-ready.
Braden Schneider – New York Rangers
Age 24 – Contract status – Pending restricted free agent
Schneider is in the same boat as Nemec, an RFA at season’s end. Though Schneider won’t demand as much as his Metropolitan Division counterpart, it will likely be in the $4-5M range. At this juncture, Schneider is a consistent 20-point player and is a complementary-type defensive partner who portrays second pair potential. One bonus, the Rangers 2019 first-rounder has been relatively injury-free, missing only three games in four seasons.
Zach Whitecloud – Calgary Flames
Age 29 – Contract status – Two years remaining at $2.75M
Similar to Perbix, Whitecloud earns an identical salary, but has one extra season remaining. This may be one reason why the Flames wouldn’t move him. Whitecloud is a relative bargain and can fill a second or third pair role. Acquired by the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson trade, Whitecloud is a physical player and plays in the same vein as Senators’ Artem Zub. The native of Brandon, MB is another defenseman off whom the Senators may have already called upon.
What direction the Senators will go in on Friday’s trade deadline is anyone’s guess? Depending on how the Bruins fair in Nashville and the Senators perform in Calgary Thursday, Ottawa could be anywhere from four to eight points behind Boston in the race for the Wildcard berth. But one thing is for certain, regardless where they land in the Eastern Conference standings, the Ottawa Senators will still possess a need for a right-shot defenseman.
