The San Jose Sharks made a notable buzzer-beating move ahead of the NHL trade deadline, sending fan-favorite forward Fabian Zetterlund with a fourth rounder to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Zack Ostapchuk, a 21-year-old former second rounder, and a 2nd round pick.
OTT/SJ:
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025
To Ottawa: Zetterlund, Robins and a 4th
To San Jose: Ostapchuk, Gregor and OTT's 2025 2nd
Zetterlund, who quickly became a beloved figure during his time with the New Jersey Devils, brought a combination of energy, physicality, and scoring touch that endeared him to fans. He was a key chip the Sharks coveted in the trade that brought Timo Meier to the Devils in 2023, and he proved the Sharks right with his play in San Jose, becoming a breakout star for them last season with a 24 goal season.
Zetterlund is, however, a pending restricted free agent who is certainly due a substantial raise on his 2 year, $1.45 million dollar deal which expires after this season.
His departure from San Jose marks the end of a brief but impactful stint with the Sharks, where he continued to showcase his ability to contribute in a middle-six role. He followed up a breakout 44 point campaign last season with 17 goals and 19 assists through 64 games this season a 46 point pace. He also was remarkably a +8 on a truly dreadful San Jose Sharks team, showing his two-way defensive prowess as well.
For Ottawa, acquiring Zetterlund represents a significant addition to their forward group as they push for a playoff spot. The Senators, like the Devils, find themselves in a tight race in the Eastern Conference, and Zetterlund’s two-way game and offensive upside should provide a huge boost to the Senators lineup.
Ottawa’s aggressive approach at the deadline didn’t stop with Zetterlund. The Senators also added high-upside scoring talent in Dylan Cozens, in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. These moves signal Ottawa’s commitment to taking a swing this season, as they aim to capitalize on their young core’s development, and try to show why Brady Tkachuk should remain there long-term when his current deal expires.
In contrast, the Devils’ only forward addition at the deadline appears to be Cody Glass, a player with untapped potential, but far less proven production than Zetterlund or Cozens.
For Devils fans, seeing Zetterlund thrive in Ottawa while their team opted for a more conservative approach may be a tough pill to swallow. Ottawa’s additions of Zetterlund and Cozens demonstrate a some clear big swings at talent, while the Devils’ quieter approach leaves questions about whether they did enough to address the holes in their injury-ravaged roster.
But perhaps the Devils can work toward a reunion with Zetterlund this coming July when his contract expires. NHL GMs are famously loathe to use the offer sheet, though St. Louis did acquire two key contributors from the Oilers in Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg last season. But perhaps Fitzgerald would be tempted to offer sheet Zetterlund, and Zetterlund could be tempted to sign the offer sheet to return home to the team that drafted him in 2017. Or perhaps Fitzgerald could use one of the Devils two remaining second round picks in the 2025 draft to convince Ottawa to flip Zetterlund to the Devils this coming summer.