logo
FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Senators interested in Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar: report
alt
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 29, 2026, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 29, 2026, 11:38 EST
Comments
By trading Rasmus Andersson, the Calgary Flames have kicked off what could be an incredibly busy final few weeks before Mar. 6’s trade deadline.
There have been a handful of other Flame players who have had their names come up ahead of the trade deadline, namely Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri. Well, it appears MacKenzie Weegar is another player who is of interest on the market.
According to the Ottawa Citizen’s Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators have had discussions regarding the Flames defenceman. Weegar grew up in the nation’s capital, playing some of his junior hockey with Central Canada Hockey League’s Nepean Raiders, before playing for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Drafted 206th overall in the 2013 draft by the Florida Panthers, Weegar is a rare impact player drafted in the seventh round. After three seasons in the minor leagues, Weegar made his NHL debut in 2016-17, before becoming a regular in 2017-18. Weegar eventually blossomed into a point-producing defenceman, picking up at least 30 points in 2020-21 and 2021-22, finishing with 44 in the second year.
Weegar was involved in the Matthew Tkachuk trade in the summer of 2022, and set career-highs in his second season with the Flames, scoring 20 goals and 52 points. Last season, he followed it up with eight goals and 47 points, but is down to just three goals and 16 points in 52 games this season.
The right-shot defenceman has taken a step back this season, which isn’t surprising given the Flames regression. Still, he’s a top four defenceman who is capable of scoring and playing on both sides of the ice. What’s more is that Weegar has an affordable cap hit of $6.25 million annually on a contract that ends after the 2030-31 season. However, he does have a full no-move clause, meaning he’ll have to waive.
Being from Ottawa and the Senators having a somewhat bright future could be a reason Weegar waives, but the team is a little light on the type of prospects the Flames need. A lot of the Senators’ best prospects are either defencemen (Carter Yakemchuk, Logan Hensler) or netminders (Leevi Meriläinen). Their best centre prospect according to Daily Faceoff’s pre-season prospect countdown is Stephen Halliday.
The left-shot centre has split his time between the American Hockey League and National Hockey League, scoring three goals and 10 points in 21 NHL games, as well as two goals and 26 points in 22 AHL games. Last season with the Belleville Senators, the 23-year-old scored 19 goals and 51 points in 71 games.
Xavier Bourgault is another young player of note. Although he played centre in the past, he’s undersized and has played mostly right wing since the Senators acquired him in a trade. Through 43 games this season, he has 14 goals and 37 points in 43 games.
As for their draft picks, the Senators forfeited their first rounder in 2026 due to a whole trade controversy a few years ago. They have their second and three third round picks in the 2026 draft, as well as their first round picks in 2027 and 2028..
It’ll be interesting to see if this heats up any further as the Flames continue to fall further behind the playoff pace.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
Sponsored by bet365:

Editorials

Breaking News