Ottawa hockey fans are deep in offseason speculation mode, and the Ottawa Senators have no shortage of decisions to make before next season gets underway. The latest Senators mailbag from the Ottawa Citizen tackles some of the most pressing questions on fans' minds — and there's a lot to unpack.
The Giroux Question
Claude Giroux has been one of the Senators' most reliable veterans, bringing leadership and consistent offensive production to a young, evolving roster. The big question now: what does a new deal look like for him, and does it make sense for both sides?
Giroux isn't a player you can easily replace. His hockey IQ, two-way play, and locker room presence are the kinds of things that don't show up on a stat sheet but absolutely show up in how a team performs under pressure. For GM Steve Staios, the challenge is balancing fair market value for a veteran on the back end of his career with the team's longer-term cap picture.
Expect any extension to be shorter-term — likely one to two years — and structured in a way that gives Ottawa flexibility as its core younger players approach their own big paydays.
Artem Zub's Future on the Blue Line
Artem Zub has quietly become one of the steadier presences on Ottawa's defence. He's not flashy, but he's dependable — exactly what a rebuilding team needs on the back end while it develops its more dynamic pieces.
A Zub extension feels like a priority. He's the type of player who provides cost-certainty on defence without commanding a massive cap hit, and Staios would be wise to lock him up before he hits the open market and other teams start circling.
The mailbag raises good questions about term and dollars. Zub likely falls into the $4–5 million AAV range for a multi-year deal, though the exact structure will depend on how the team's defensive depth looks heading into next season.
The Goaltending Situation
This is arguably the most pressing issue facing Staios this offseason. Goaltending has been a recurring conversation in Ottawa for years, and the Senators need clarity between the pipes if they're going to take the next step as a franchise.
The mailbag touches on how Staios should approach this — whether through a trade, a free agency signing, or continued development from within. Each path has its risks and rewards. A splashy trade or signing brings proven production but can cost significant assets or cap space. Betting on internal development is cheaper but higher-variance.
For a team that feels like it's knocking on the door of consistent playoff contention, getting the goaltending right could be the difference between a first-round exit and a legitimate deep run.
Seat Members and the Resale Market
One lighter note from the mailbag: season seat members reselling tickets has been a hot topic. It's a sign of growing demand for Senators games, which is genuinely good news for a franchise that has worked hard to rebuild its fanbase after some turbulent years.
More fans wanting to get into Canadian Tire Centre — even through the resale market — means the energy around this team is real. Ottawa is paying attention, and that matters.
The Bottom Line
Staios has a busy offseason ahead. Giroux, Zub, goaltending — these aren't small decisions, and how he handles them will shape Ottawa's competitive window for years to come. Sens fans are right to be engaged.
Source: Ottawa Citizen Senators Mailbag — Read the full column
