3 Trade Packages the Senators Could Put Together for Blues’ Jordan Kyrou – The Hockey Writers – Ottawa Senators

The Jordan Kyrou trade speculation has been going on for the last two years now, including a couple of months ago at the trade deadline, and the St. Louis Blues might have finally reached their breaking point with a move expected this offseason.

On his ‘32 Thoughts Podcast‘ with Kyle Bukauskas, Elliotte Friedman believed that the Ottawa Senators were interested in Robert Thomas at the deadline, but also noted they asked about Kyrou. After their disappointing playoff exit, the Senators could pivot back to either one of them, but would need Kyrou more for the wing since they already have Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto as their middle-six centres.

Kyrou, a Toronto, Ontario product, just finished the third of an eight-year contract he signed with St. Louis in Sept. 2022, carrying an $8.125 million cap hit. He did not live up to it so much this season with 46 points in 72 games after tallying 30-plus goals in three straight seasons and putting up between 60 and 70 points in four straight. 

However, with the right linemates and roster, Kyrou can be a speedy and effective playmaker, one that the Senators will need if they are looking to improve on the wing. That said, the demand for the 28-year-old will be steep and may include “an established player, a prospect and a draft pick,” (‘Projecting the Blues’ Lineup for 2026-27: Go young or role it back?‘ The Athletic, May 12, 2026). So, what could general manager Steve Staios offer to match this description and make a trade work?

Zetterlund, Hensler & 2 First-Round Picks

This is the package that the Senators will want to offer in terms of the prospects and picks to best match Kyrou’s value. Logan Hensler, Ottawa’s 23^rd overall selection from the 2025 Draft, is seen as a valuable defensive prospect with plenty of two-way upside. He can also contribute some offence, tallying consecutive 12-point seasons with the University of Wisconsin. 

Is it tough to trade pieces from the farm system? Sure. But the Sens are in win-now mode and can afford to give up a top prospect for someone with term who can fulfill a need, and Kyrou does both. Being competitive also applies to the value of first-round picks. If the Senators are in the playoffs in each of the next two years or more, those picks drop to the early-to-mid-20s, meaning another one has to be added to draw more value.

Lastly, Fabian Zetterlund has been solid for Ottawa since the club acquired him from the San Jose Sharks at last year’s trade deadline, but he has been pushed down in the lineup while making middle-six money and has also failed to launch in the last two playoff runs, going pointless in 10 games. Because of this, he and his $4.275 million salary could be thrown in to make both teams cap-compliant, and the Senators could find a replacement for the third or fourth line.  

Chabot, Hensler & a First-Round Pick

Hensler or Blake Vanek is the likely prospect to be dangled by Ottawa in any big deal, but Thomas Chabot going the other way gives St. Louis the ‘established’ player they are looking for.

Chabot has been everything the Senators have needed since drafting him in 2015 – a rock-solid, two-way defenceman who has become a leader on the team. But with Jake Sanderson ready to lead the back end, Carter Yakemchuk continuing to emerge, and Jordan Spence in need of an extension, there are simply too many offensive-minded guys on the Sens’ blue line. This is especially apparent since Chabot is making $8 million over the next two seasons.

So, why not swap him for a need on the wing and find a defensive-minded replacement in free agency? Both Kyrou and Chabot have similar salaries and ages, but the Sens are looking to upgrade a position and would be sacrificing an asset from a spot where they already have plenty of blueliners. Could Spence go instead? Sure, but he hasn’t built up the reputation that Chabot has to match that value, meaning more assets might have to go.

It makes plenty of sense on Ottawa’s side, but why would the Blues make this deal when they already pay north of $6 million to three defencemen – Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, and Philip Broberg? Simple: Chabot becomes their most stable and flexible defenceman who can slot into Logan Mailloux’s spot on the top pair, leaving room for a Parayko trade as well. Or, if it doesn’t work out for either side, St. Louis has another trade asset, as many teams would love a top-four defenceman like Chabot.

The Sens could also save another high draft pick with Chabot’s value already matching the equivalent of a first.

Vanek & Multiple First-and Second-Round Picks

Vanek, who was Ottawa’s third-round selection in 2025 after Hensler, might be the toughest of the Sens’ prospects for them to flip with his 6-foot-3 frame, crafty hands and wicked shot. And depending on how many picks they give up, this trade would also put Ottawa’s draft capital at risk. The Senators have all their first- and second-round picks for the next three years, as well as third-rounders from the Florida Panthers and the Dallas Stars in this year’s draft.

This would be the club’s route if they don’t want to give up any roster players, but this would still bring them to around $2.5 million in cap space, so someone else would have to go either this summer or at the start of next season. However, the Senators will be active this offseason and could worry about getting below the cap come September.

Any of these offers – or others, depending on St. Louis’ asking price – could be obsolete, as Kyrou has a no-trade clause, so it is fully up to him if he wants to go to Ottawa. But the Senators’ brass should also consider that the Blues will be going through a general manager change right as the offseason picks up, with Alex Steen taking Doug Armstrong’s place on July 1.

If they want to make a splash for one of the league’s top names on the trading block this offseason, it would be wise of Ottawa to start with packages like these, especially with a new GM for the Blues who could be eager to get a deal done.