Julian McKenzie

2 days ago | nytimes.com | Julian McKenzie

As we settle into the early days of the Ottawa Senators offseason, there's no better time to get to your mailbag questions. We received many questions, so this month's edition has been split into two parts. Part 1 addresses which potential trade and free-agent targets the Senators could add to their top six. Note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Great work covering the Senators for the first time this year! Should the Sens give up their draft pick this year or next year?

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Julian McKenzie

OTTAWA - It drew a laugh from Senators coach Travis Green, but it had to be asked. It was the last time Ottawa media would see him or general manager Steve Staios until the draft, possibly beyond. It was also the right time to ask questions about how the Senators would address their need for scoring this offseason, among others. It had been only days since the team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs, so things were still fresh.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Julian McKenzie

The Ottawa Senators have signed restricted free agent defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo to a two-year, one-way contract extension worth $1.75 million. The deal carries an $875,000 cap hit through the end of the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old was arbitration-eligible this summer, according to PuckPedia. Matinpalo joined the Senators as an undrafted free agent in May 2023. He made his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season, playing four games for the Senators.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Julian McKenzie

OTTAWA - Brady Tkachuk feels he should still be playing. And it hasn't allowed him to wrap his brain around much else. It's been a few days since the Senators' captain and his teammates skated off the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre for the last time this season, losing Game 6 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. If they won that game at home, Game 7 would've been Saturday night in Toronto. "Still not over it, to be honest, yet.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Julian McKenzie

The Calgary Flames have signed forward Matt Coronato to a seven-year, $45.50 million contract, the team announced Saturday. The 22-year-old right-shot forward was slated to be a restricted free agent this summer. Coronato's contract will carry a $6.5 million cap hit through 2032 when he'll be 29 years old. "Matt wants to be here long term, and that says a lot about him and where this is kind of going, moving forward," general manager Craig Conroy said via an X post the team shared.