Senators GM Staios set on retooling roster by bringing in experience

We can assume this much about the Senators new general manager:

He’s not likely to be nicknamed Stand Pat Staios. 

Staios, who keeps his cards close and his confidants closer, has set out to retool Ottawa’s roster with more experienced and proven players at all positions. 

Last week Staios added a legitimate starting goaltender in Linus Ullmark, getting him from the Boston Bruins. Huge add, that. 

And on Monday, aka Canada Day and NHL free agent frenzy, there were no flies on Staios as he brought change to his defence and forward positions. 

In his first foray into free agency as a general manager, Staios:

• Swapped out defenceman Jakob Chychrun for right-shot Nick Jensen and a third-round draft pick in 2026.

• Brought in veteran winger David Perron, 36, on a two-year deal at $4 million per season. 

• Signed versatile forward Mike Amadio, 28, to a three-year deal, at an AAV of $2.6 million. 

• Signed role winger Noah Gregor, 25, formerly with the Toronto Maple Leafs, to a one-year deal at $850,000. 

When the dust settled, the Senators had used up about $7 million of their $11.3M of cap space and are now left with about $4.4M, until the next deal.

“We feel like we were disciplined in what we were doing today,” Staios.

After a busy day of business, a cool and calm Staios, his default persona, seemed pleased with the alterations. Not Pierre Dorion giddy, but hence the difference between the former and current GM. 

Particularly evident from the additions — the Senators won’t be as wet behind the ears, as they have been while kids played on the blue line and up front in recent seasons. 

“As I watched our team last year, I felt like maybe we needed more of that (experience) at times,” Staios said. “So, we’re pleased we were able to do that.”

The Senator’s biggest move of the day — the one their fans discussed over Canada Day beverages — involved the long anticipated trade of Chychrun. Ultimately, he moves to the Washington Capitals for Jensen plus a pick. 

This was just one of many indications that Dorion is no longer calling the shots. Oh, how Dorion coveted Chychrun when the sculpted D-man was a member of the Arizona Coyotes. In March of 2023, Dorion gave up a first-round pick and two second-round selections to get Chychrun. 

But after one season in Ottawa, Staios determined that Chychrun didn’t bring enough to the table to separate himself from Thomas Chabot, another left-shot defenceman, but on a long-term deal. 

With just one year left on a deal paying $4.6 million, Chychrun, 26, was sure to command a bigger payday in the years to come. 

Staios opted for right-shot D-man Jensen, 33, a dependable and certainly not flashy player who is under contract for the next two seasons at $4.05M. 

Unfortunately, when you undo the work of others there is often a price to be paid. 

It isn’t lost on Senators fans that to get Chychrun, Dorion gave up three choice picks. Of course, he thought he was getting a defenceman who would be part of his top four for years to come. 

But after one middling year in Ottawa — good offensive numbers but cracks in his defensive game — Chychrun is gone, along with those three draft picks. 

Staios clearly feels more comfortable with a top four that could shape up like this:

Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot — Jensen. 

“I was looking at an opportunity to be able to balance out our defence and we’re able to do that with the acquisition of Nick Jensen,” Staios said. 

Finally, the Sens can present a left-right pairing in the top four, with Zub and Jensen from the right side, Sanderson and Chabot on the left. 

Staios likes the addition of Perron, a proven scorer — seven times he has had 20 or more goals — and also a guy who brings leadership. And Perron is forgiven for accidentally attacking the wrong Senators player (Zub) after Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin went down in a heap. 

Apparently, Senators owner Michael Andlauer joked to Staios that the Sens should put Perron next to Zub in the dressing room so they can patch up their differences. 

We doubt that will be an issue. 

Like Amadio, Perron brings Cup cred from his 2019 triumph with St. Louis. 

Amadio, meanwhile, plays a strong two-way game and can slot in at any of the three forward positions. Three of his 14 goals last season came on the power play. Amadio actually breezed through Ottawa in 2020-21 to appear in five games for the Senators.

All of these changes happened just a day after the Senators decided not to qualify restricted free agent defenceman Erik Brannstrom or forward Parker Kelly, a fourth liner. 

Staios simply didn’t see a place for the diminutive Brannstrom. Dorion’s prized acquisition in the Mark Stone trade, Brannstrom was a fan favourite but didn’t do enough of what a player his size needs to bring from the back end. 

Oh, Lordy, that trade. For the stellar Stone: Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg and a 2020 second-round pick, which turned out to be Egor Sokolov. And there’s little indication that Sokolov has a future in Ottawa. So, soon there will be nothing to show for the guy who went to Vegas, became captain and won a Stanley Cup in 2023. 

The departure of Brannstrom could be good news for one Tyler Kleven. 

As for letting Kelly go, Staios said he was looking for a “differentiating quality” in that role. 

Translation, which Staios provided: Gregor can really skate. They wanted more speed on the bottom six. 

And so, incoming in the past week:

Ullmark, Jensen, Perron, Amadio, Gregor.

Outgoing:

Joonas Korpisalo, Brannstrom, Kelly, Mark Kastelic, Boris Katchouk. 

Of course, we can analyze these moves to death and the talk won’t mean much until the Senators hit the ice in the fall. 

But Staios feels better about his group today, adding experienced NHL players to a young group he feels can grow from what they’ve been through — trial by horror, we might say. 

He stopped short of saying this is a playoff team. And good on him for that. 

“It’s amazing what a year — a bad year — does,” Staios said. “And how much you can learn from that. I feel that our core group of players, all of our players, had a good chance to reflect and prepare for the upcoming season. 

“I’m looking more on the level of competitiveness, professionalism, discipline. Those types of things are where I feel we’re ready to take that next step. That’s what I want to see. The results will take care of themselves.

“When you talk of playoffs, it’s more on the consistency of this group. The maturity of this group.”

Staios is not done yet. Expect more tinkering via trade and signings this summer. 

No news, good news on Pinto?

Social media ran hot Monday with tales that Shane Pinto’s camp could be asking for a trade out of Ottawa. Staios said the rumours are untrue and that contract negotiations are ongoing with the RFA centre. 

Josh Norris in Ottawa

Centre Josh Norris, who missed much of last season with another shoulder injury requiring surgery, is in Ottawa and the reports are promising. 

“He’s in for the week,” Staios said. “So, really pleased that in speaking to the medical, strength and conditioning staff, he’s making great progress.”

While Norris is expected to be ready for the main camp in the fall, the Senators won’t take any chances with their No. 2 centre. 

“We’re going to take the best approach for Josh to prepare to play an entire season,” Staios said.