Could The Vancouver Canucks Be A Trade Partner For The Ottawa Senators?

Steve Staios is looking to make a trade, that's no secret.

It's been widely reported that the Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations and general manager has been working the phones for help at nearly every position. It takes two to tango, and the Senators most recent opponent could be the perfect dance partner.

The Senators defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 last night, with goals coming from defencemen Artem Zub and Jordan Spence. It wasn't exactly a dominant performance from the Senators, but it snapped a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, this extended the Vancouver's own skid to five games, as they sit dead-last in the NHL standings.

Since trading superstar Quinn Hughes last month, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has been vocal about the idea of entering a "hybrid-rebuild."

“I would suggest that we listen to teams when they call - about anybody,” Rutherford said on Sunday. “Based on the circumstances with this team, this is the year to do it. The fact of the matter is we’re in a rebuild."

It seems Staios heard Rutherford loud and clear, as he made the trek to Montreal on Monday and caught the Canucks 6-3 loss to the Canadiens.

The next stretch of games will determine if the Senators are in the position to add, as the Olympic break roster freeze approaches on Feb. 4.

But if they do decide to add, the Canucks seem like a perfect trading partner for the Senators. Here are a few players that may interest Staios...

Filip Hronek

If there's one hole in the Senators lineup right now, it's at right defence (once the goaltending stabilizes). They're short a legitimate top-four calibre blueliner to play alongside either Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot.

Nick Jensen hasn't been the same since undergoing hip surgery in the offseason, Jordan Spence has shown some flashes but is more suited to play on a third-pair role, and who knows when Carter Yakemchuk makes the jump from the AHL.

Filip Hronek would immediately become the Senators' top right-shot on the backend. He'd slot perfectly beside Sanderson, and compliment his play in the same way he did with Quinn Hughes who, by the way, won a Norris Trophy in his first full season with the Czech as his d-partner.

Hronek is 28 years old, and is signed through the end of the 2031-32 season at a cap-hit of $7.25-million. His contract does include a full no-move clause, so it's up to him if he wants to stick it out in Vancity.

If made available, Hronek would fetch a sizeable return. But the Senators have an abundance of centers, which may interest the Canucks. They were rumored to have been interested in Dylan Cozens before Ottawa acquired him at last year's deadline.

Kiefer Sherwood

Nearly every team in the NHL will be calling on 30-year-old right winger Kiefer Sherwood, and for good reason.

He led the league in hits last with a single season record-breaking 462 just last season, and is in the midst of a career year. Despite missing time due to injury, Sherwood already scored 17 goals in 44 games. His total last season was a career-high 19 goals in 78 total games.

The Columbus, Ohio native plays a rugged style of hockey that any playoff team would covet, and that's not to mention his cap hit of just $1.5-million.

The ask from Vancouver may start with a 2026 first-round pick, which the Senators simply don't have to offer, especially if it includes an extension on Sherwood's expiring contract.

Jake DeBrusk

Struggling in his second season as a member of the Canucks, Jake DeBrusk has struggled specifically at five-on-five.

He's known as a streaky scorer, but DeBrusk has 12 goals on the year, 11 of which coming on the powerplay. He's in the second year of a seven-year deal with a cap hit of $5.5-million.

Like Hronek, DeBrusk also possesses a no-movement clause that would need to be waived. After being made a healthy scratch on Dec. 29 and openly discussing his frustrations with the amount of losing this season, perhaps he'd embrace a fresh start.

"I’ve never lost this many games in a row in my life," DeBrusk said following the Tuesday loss to Ottawa.

The Senators are short top-six left wingers after captain Brady Tkachuk, and the 29-year-old would slot well on a second-line role in Ottawa.

Conor Garland

Another Canucks winger that Staios would likely show interest in is veteran Conor Garland, someone head coach Travis Green is very familiar with from his time in Vancouver.

He carries a $6-million cap hit through the 2031-32 season and brings an element of leadership and toughness. The Canucks would probably be open to moving Garland if the opportunity arose, though aren't under any pressure to do so.

Last season, he recorded a career-high 50 points and currently has 22 (seven goals, 15 assists) through 35 games.