Ottawa — For the past two seasons, General Manager Steve Staios of the Ottawa Senators has made acquiring right-shot defensemen a top priority. While the team has invested two first-round picks in future talents like Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler, the recent trade for Jordan Spence directly addresses the team`s immediate needs.
Spence`s acquisition is aimed at enhancing puck movement from the right side of the blue line, a crucial area where the Senators sought improvement. At 24, Spence is recognized as an elite, analytics-favored puck-moving defenseman, a highly sought-after asset in the league. Data from Hockey Viz indicates that the Kings` performance at five-on-five significantly improved with Spence on the ice last season, showing an expected goals rate of 2.59 compared to 2.45 when he was off.
Right-shot defensemen are a valuable commodity in the NHL, and the Senators have experienced firsthand the challenges of a shallow depth chart in this position. Left-shot Jakob Chychrun struggled playing on his weaker side behind Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, leading to his trade to the Capitals for Nick Jensen, who offered more defensive stability.
Although Jensen brought some much-needed steadiness to the right side last season, the Senators still required more offensive contribution from that position. While Travis Hamonic and Nikolas Matinpalo (who earned a two-year extension for his solid third-pair play) offered contributions, they weren`t the long-term solution. The team`s defensive depth was limited to six players last season, a situation now poised for change.
Spence arrives at his new team not only with significant talent but also strong motivation. He is eager to prove himself as a top-four defenseman, a role he couldn`t fully secure in Los Angeles. Additionally, he enters the season as a restricted free agent.
Regarding his contract situation, Spence stated earlier this week at a Senators media event, “I’m not really focused on (the contract) at all, whatsoever. I think it just matters how I play this season.”
On the aspirations for a top-four role, he added, “Obviously that’s always in the back of your head. Just to try to be better as a player and to gain the coach’s trust to play more ice time. But at the end of the day, it’s the effort and the individual work that you put in.”
It`s clear that Spence, who recorded 28 points last season, represents a significant upgrade to Ottawa’s top six defensive pairings, especially compared to Hamonic or Matinpalo. Last season, Senators defensemen collectively scored 25th in the league, with right-shot defensemen contributing a mere seven goals combined. Spence alone accounted for four goals in Los Angeles last season, whereas left-shot defensemen Sanderson and Chabot combined for 20 goals.
Increased offense from the right side of the blue line is vital for boosting the Senators` overall offensive output, which ranked second to last in the NHL for five-on-five goals last season.
Spence, an undersized five-foot-ten defender who isn`t known for his physicality, still needs to refine his game. This archetype of defenseman has seen mixed results in Ottawa, with successes like Erik Karlsson and challenges like Erik Brannstrom.
The exact return date for Jensen following off-season hip surgery remains uncertain. However, once he is back, Head Coach Travis Green will have a variety of defensive options.
Projected Defensive Pairings
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Spence
Matinpalo-Yakemchuk