The Ottawa Senators have surprised many this season. The Senators have racked up 48 points at the midway point of their season, and have them flirting with a playoff spot. The one glaring weakness is on left wing. So, if this team wants to make a charge it is time to add depth on the left side. I have come up with three options that fit the Senators need at Left Wing.
The first option and probably only a short-term fix would be Mike Cammalleri of the New Jersey Devils. Cammalleri carries a 5 million cap hit he also has 22 points through 37 games. Cammalleri is a very smart faced pace player that could fit very well along Kyle Turris or Derrick Brassard giving the team an offensive upgrade at the Left-wing spot. This could come with its own risks Cammalleri is 34 so he’s only going downhill, but With the Devils having such a terrible year the Senators may be able to get the sniper at a very cheap price. Overall this could be a trade that could help improve the Senators in the short term, but could hinder the team moving forward if his age starts to factor in or if his cap hit become too cumbersome.
Option number two, and probably the most farfetched would be Gabriel Landeskog. There have been Landeskog rumors that have inferred that the team is willing to listen to offers on any player but the price for Landeskog is rumored to be a 1st, a top tier defenseman and a prospect. The 24-year-old Landeskog is a four time 50-point scorer who also adds toughness and grit to the lineup which would complement the speed of the Senators very well. Another thing to note is Landeskogs long term contract that that carries a cap hit of about 6 million over the next 5 years which is a steal for a player of his caliber. However, Landeskog is having a tough start to the season only tallying 13 points in 30 games with a -10. Like I stated earlier this is a trade that will more than likely not happen, but if the Senators can somehow make it happen they could possibly make the team a contender for years to come.
Evander Kane could be another option for the Senators if the price is right. Kane is a player who has had his troubles off the ice and is no stranger to letting his opinion be known. Kane is a very skilled, aggressive power forward who when on his game can dictate the pace of play while he’s on the ice. Kane has 11 goals and 5 assists, those stats will by no means blow you away but with his skill the sky is the ceiling for Kane. Buffalo might be hesitant to move Kane considering he has been recently acquired, but taken into consideration of his history it may not be a terrible idea if Buffalo can get what they consider a worthy return for Kane.
Other options could include out there may include, Mathieu Perrault, Jeff Skinner, James Van Riemsdyk, and Sven Baertschi.
I am a passionate Pittsburgh Penguins fan from Pittsburgh. I graduated from Sports Management World Wide in Hockey Management and Scouting. I interned with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League in the Hockey/Business Operations Department. I currently do independent hockey scouting services, blogging and podcasts.