Senators Ready to Cut Promising Young Defenseman After Just One Season — What Went Wrong in Ottawa?

The honeymoon period in Canada’s capital may be over before it even really began. According to multiple sources close to the situation, the Ottawa Senators are reportedly preparing to move on from defenseman Jordan Spence — a player they acquired with such high hopes just last summer — and insiders say the organization’s growing frustration could lead to a major shakeup on the blue line.

Spence, 25, was brought in from the Los Angeles Kings during the 2025 NHL Draft in a deal that sent a pair of draft picks west. At the time, the move was hailed as a savvy pickup for a Senators squad desperate for right-shot depth. But according to hockey insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the excitement has soured in a big way.

“They’ve been a little disappointed this season in his performance,” Pagnotta revealed on a recent episode of the DFO Rundown Insider Edition. “Even though I know the LA Kings are screaming that they let him go for draft picks, it hasn’t really worked out in Ottawa.”

The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. Spence, who is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, is reportedly being dangled as trade bait — and the Senators are allegedly listening hard. Sources say Ottawa’s front office, led by GM Steve Staios, is laser-focused on upgrading the right side of its defensive corps, and Spence’s name has come up in internal discussions as a potential piece to move.

“They want to bring in a top-four right-side defenseman — mobile, versatile, but also with a bit of physicality,” Pagnotta added. “That seems to be a priority for the Ottawa Senators and Steve Staios. They also want to add a top-six forward, but the blue line is the priority.”

Spence’s season in Ottawa was a rollercoaster. He posted seven goals and 31 points over 82 games, finishing plus-15 while logging heavy minutes — often 25-plus per night — especially after injuries ravaged the Senators’ blue line. But early in the year, he was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions, raising eyebrows about his fit within the system. Then came the playoffs: a brutal first-round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, where Spence was held pointless in four games.

The contrast is hard to ignore. The Kings, according to insiders, are reportedly seething over the trade, believing they gave up a diamond for pennies. But in Ottawa, the narrative is reportedly flipped: frustration over inconsistency and a perceived lack of physical edge has allegedly led the front office to explore moving on.

Observers around the league are buzzing about what this could mean for Spence. Some see him as a prime buy-low candidate for a team looking for a skilled, puck-moving defenseman with room to grow. Others wonder if the Senators are quietly panicking after a first-round playoff exit, eager to make a splash this summer at any cost.

One NHL source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told us: “It’s rare a player goes from being a deadline pickup to a trade chip this fast. But Ottawa is clearly trying to build a contender now — and if Spence is the price for a proven top-four blueliner or a top-six forward, they’re ready to pay it.”

With the NHL Draft and free agency looming, all eyes are on Staios and the Senators’ front office. If Spence is indeed on the move, it could signal a major shift in Ottawa’s strategy — or just another chapter in the chaotic, high-stakes drama of the NHL offseason.