Senators rumors: Ottawa ready to move on from young RFA defenseman

Jordan Spence has been a member of the Ottawa Senators for just under a calendar year — but he might not be long for Canada’s capital city.

After acquiring the right-shot defenseman from the Los Angeles Kings during the 2025 NHL Draft, the team could be looking to trade him this summer, as The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported earlier this week.

“They’ve been a little disappointed this season in his performance, even though I know the LA Kings are screaming that they let him go for draft picks,” Pagnotta told Irfaan Gaffar in the latest episode of DFO Rundown Insider Edition.

“But it hasn’t really worked out in Ottawa. And he was somebody that they were listening on at the deadline.”

Pagnotta believes the 25-year-old, who will be a restricted free agent on July 1, could be used as trade bait in an effort to acquire a legitimate top-four blue liner — or another top-six forward.

“(Ottawa) wants to upgrade that right side,” the hockey insider added. “They want to bring in a top-four right-side defenseman, on that team, that’s mobile, versatile, but also has a bit of physicality to his game. That seems to be a priority for the Ottawa Senators and GM Steve Staios.

“They also want to bring in a top-six forward to add to their mix, but it seems like the blue line is the priority for the Sens.”

Spence was drafted in the fourth round by the Kings back in 2019, and spent parts of four seasons in Los Angeles’ system. He was shipped to Ottawa in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.

The Australian native recorded seven goals and 31 points in 2025-26, going pointless in four Stanley Cup Playoff contests as the Senators were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1.

Spence struggled at the beginning of the year, even being healthy scratched on a few occasions. But he improved his game as Ottawa’s blue line suffered a plethora of injuries, and he finished plus-15 in the regular season, while regularly seeing 25 minutes of ice time or more.

With Ottawa prioritizing upgrades on both the blue line and in its top six, Spence could emerge as one of the organization’s more valuable trade chips in the coming weeks.

If the Sens are able to make a significant addition this offseason, there’s a chance the young defenseman is part of the price.

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