4 Trade Targets Listed As Senators Going 'Big Game Hunting' After Dealing Tkachuk

The Ottawa Senators & Florida Panthers shocked the hockey world on Sunday with the blockbuster move of Brady Tkachuk to Ft. Lauderdale to join his brother. But the all-draft assets return that Ottawa got isn't the end of this story. 

Insider Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen fully expects Sens GM Steve Staios now to take some of those assets and go "Big Game Hunting" to try to find some significant scoring help. A league executive told him that the Senators "were actively seeking a top-six forward who could play with top center Tim Stutzle".

Garrioch lists four "big game" targets that Staios could be shooting for: 

Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks

This is the name that makes the most sense. The Ducks are desperate to get themselves into the first round, and the Senators now have three picks that meet that description, thanks to the two they acquired from Florida in the Tkachuk trade. 

McTavish is somewhat of a distressed asset after a disappointing first year of his six-year, $7M AAV deal signed last summer. But don't let that fool you. There is a ton of interest from teams hoping to snag McTavish and give him a fresh start. 

Garrioch points out that Staios "has a history with McTavish." The GM acquired the young center while he was running the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League. 

Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues

The Sens have had talks with the Blues about the speedy winger who had three straight 30-goal seasons before this past year. There was a report out of St. Louis, however, that Kyrou wouldn't waive his no-move clause for Ottawa, so there's that. 

Rickard Rakell / Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins

These two were on the trade block at the 2025 deadline and during the summer, before anyone could have imagined the renaissance season the Penguins had in 2025-26. Ottawa has shown interest in the duo. Both of Sidney Crosby's first-line sidekicks hold high value in a trade, but Garrioch reports that the Senators will almost certainly try to revisit those talks. 

And of course, let's not forget the wild report on Sunday that the Sens are considering submitting an insane offer sheet to Dallas Stars' RFA Jason Robertson.