The Ottawa Senators may have a new Fabian Zetterlund problem to solve
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Daniel Lucente
Apr 30, 2026 (5:19 PM)
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Photo credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images
Fabian Zetterlund is now a real Travis Green roster question, not just a quiet Ottawa Senators subplot.
Elliotte Friedman did not frame this as noise. He framed it as curiosity around a player Ottawa still has to solve.
This is not a fourth-line flyer. Zetterlund was brought in to add pace, forecheck pressure, and finishing touch.
The concern is fit. Friedman said it has been difficult and wondered whether the Senators need to find a better spot for him.
That points straight at Green's bench. If a winger cannot settle into a clear role, usage becomes the story before production does.
Friedman leans into Zetterlund's name and turns the issue from output into deployment.
Re Senators: "One player I'm curious about...Fabian Zetterlund; it's been a difficult fit for him; do they look at it and say we have to do a better job of finding a spot for him or what."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Ottawa cannot let this become a wasted asset
For Steve Staios, this is where roster building gets uncomfortable. The trade value is already spent. The job now is extracting the player.
Zetterlund's game needs rhythm. He is not at his best when he is floating between lines, waiting for leftovers, or chasing chemistry after the fact.
Ottawa has enough skill up front to hide a winger for a week. It cannot do that over a full stretch and call it development.
They need to give him a defined lane: consistent linemates, a direct forechecking role, and power-play touches only if he earns them.
This is not panic. It is a warning light.
If Green finds the right slot, Zetterlund can still become a useful top-nine piece with edge. If not, the Senators may be staring at a fit problem that follows them into the offseason.
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