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Rumor mill: The Sens are looking for a right-handed defenseman (and there are candidates)
Marc-Olivier Cook
Rumor mill: The Sens are looking for a right-handed defenseman (and there are candidates)
Credit: Getty Images
The Senators made the playoffs this season.

They’ve finally managed to do that after a number of difficult years.

The plan now is to continue in that vein so that they’re still good next year. And to make that happen, the Sens are looking for a quality right-handed defenseman.

There are some names floating around Ottawa right now, as David Pagnotta reports on X.

Of the lot?

Rasmus Andersson, Rasmus Ristolainen and Aaron Ekblad.

Of these players, only Aaron Ekblad will be free as a bird this summer.

Andersson (one year) and Ristolainen (two years) are still under contract, and it would take a deal to get them out of their respective clubs.

But no matter: it’s true that the Sens have a hole on the right of defense.

Artem Zub, Nick Jensen and Nikolas Matinpalo do the job… but we’re not necessarily talking about three top-quality defensemen either.

A right-handed defenseman in Ottawa makes a lot of sense.

Bowen Byram in Los Angeles?

The Sabres aren’t going anywhere.

And that’s why, this summer, there could STILL be changes in Buffalo.

I say this because Bowen Byram’s name has been in some trade rumours lately, and now would be a good time to trade him.

Marco D’Amico is talking about the Kings in his case… and if there is a deal, maybe a guy like Brandt Clarke could go the other way :

The Sabres can afford to trade Byram because they’re already extremely solid on the left.

Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelson and Owen Power are all left-handed, and they’re doing the organization proud right now.

Bowen Byram seems to be “the extra guy”, he has great potential… and the Sabres could use him to improve their right side of defense – or pick up a forward who can help up front.

Jets want to keep Nikolaj Ehlers

I’ve always said it: Nikolaj Ehlers is one of the NHL’s most underrated players.

He produces offensively, he has an exceptional skating stroke, he has skills that allow him to be dangerous at any moment on the ice…

But he’ll be as free as a bird this summer, and the Jets need to make a decision.

If the words of Kevin Cheveldayoff (GM) are anything to go by, the Jets will do everything they can to keep him :

The goal in Winnipeg is to offer Ehlers a contract that will bind him to the team for the rest of his career.

But at the moment, the two sides don’t have the opportunity to discuss a new agreement because Ehlers is at the World Championships defending Denmark’s colors.

The matter remains to be followed up.

On the other hand, if Ehlers really wants to stay in Winnipeg, everything points to the Jets giving him the opportunity to seize it.

I wonder what his salary would be like, because we’re talking about a guy who’s scored a steady 60 points since the start of his career…

Leafs and John Tavares talk

John Tavares said it openly during his end-of-season review.

He’s not interested in leaving Toronto.

The veteran would like to live out his childhood dream of bringing the Stanley Cup back to town. He grew up a Leafs fan and has been dreaming of this moment since he was young.

The player’s seven-year contract will expire in a few weeks, but there’s some interest on the Leafs’ side to keep him in Toronto.

And the two sides will resume talks shortly, according to David Pagnotta :

Even though he’s no longer the team captain, John Tavares still has love for the Leafs.

But we agree on one thing: if he stays in town, it won’t be by earning $11M per season, as has been the case since the start of the 18-19 season.

He’ll have to accept a certain pay cut to be able to wear the uniform of his boyhood club again… and he can still help the Leafs because he’s still capable of producing.

He scored 38 times and added 36 assists (74 points) in 75 games this season…


Overtime

– The boyyssssss!

– Oh no?

– I love this!

– Happy reading.

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