
Maple Leafs Fortify Defense Ahead of Atlantic Showdown
The Leafs have added Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae while keeping Oliver Ekman‑Larsson and Morgan Rielly, and they now face a crowded defensive landscape in the Atlantic Division.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Jordan Spence across Hockey.

The Leafs have added Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae while keeping Oliver Ekman‑Larsson and Morgan Rielly, and they now face a crowded defensive landscape in the Atlantic Division.
A look at the major roster changes and internal developments for Ottawa and Montreal as they prepare for the upcoming NHL campaign.

After trading away Brady Tkachuk, the Senators are exploring free‑agency targets, internal promotions and trade‑deadline moves to rebuild a competitive top‑six forward line.

The Ottawa Senators finished the 2025‑26 campaign with 99 points and a playoff berth, while the Toronto Maple Leafs slipped to 78 points and missed the postseason. Ottawa’s offseason was marked by the trade request of captain Brady Tkachuk, who ultimately moved to Florida, and the subsequent arrival of forwards William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky, as well as goaltender Samuel Ersson, to shore up the roster. The club also retained key veterans such as Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins and Jordan Spence, preserving much of the talent that drove their strong finish. Toronto responded with a sweeping revision of its hockey operations, appointing Jim Hiller as head coach and overhauling the roster through trades that brought in Darren Raddysh, Nick Paul and Emil Andrae, and by selecting Gavin McKenna first overall in the draft. Free‑agent signings added Sergei Bobrovsky, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime and Zack MacEwen, while the organization brought in Daniel Alfredsson as an associate coach. Although the Leafs’ activity appears more extensive on paper, the article argues that Ottawa’s deeper core and the strategic additions made during the offseason give them the edge heading into the 2026‑27 season.

After ending a 15‑year playoff drought, the Buffalo Sabres look to build on their Atlantic Division triumph, while the Ottawa Senators confront a roster overhaul that could push them toward the bottom of the league.

A wave of five‑year agreements is redefining how the league's next generation of talent secures value and flexibility.

A flurry of draft‑day deals saw contending clubs swap picks and prospects, clearing cap space and adding talent as the new season looms.

A whirlwind of moves at the NHL draft saw the New York Rangers acquire Pavel Dorofeyev, the Boston Bruins obtain JJ Peterka, and several other franchises reshuffle their rosters, setting the stage for a competitive upcoming season.

The Boston Bruins are pursuing restricted free‑agent defenseman Jordan Spence from the Ottawa Senators to address a shortage of right‑shot blue‑line talent, weighing contract scenarios and roster implications.

A rundown of the latest player swaps, team strategies, and how tax considerations are shaping the free‑agency landscape in the NHL.
The Seattle Kraken are leveraging cap flexibility, draft capital, and a pipeline of prospects to craft a sustainable path back to the playoffs.

Jordan Spence’s breakout season with the Ottawa Senators has positioned him for a lucrative restricted free‑agent contract, as the team evaluates health, roster moves and the NHL’s evolving salary cap.