Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images

Senators Trade for Enforcer One Day After Coach Dismisses Need for One

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 1:30 PM ET

The Ottawa Senators made an unexpected move Friday, acquiring veteran enforcer Kurtis MacDermid from the New Jersey Devils.

Making the trade more interesting is the fact that it happened less than 48 hours after coach Travis Green publicly said the team didn’t need another fighter.

Green, when asked on Wednesday about the possibility of adding an enforcer, said the Senators had players "in spades" who could handle themselves physically.

Per Julian McKenzie of The Athletic, the Senators coach cited data ("82 percent of regular-season games — and between 92 and 95 percent of playoff games — had no fights") showing fights have declined sharply league-wide.

That said, Green emphasized his team's "toughness," nothing, "If you’re not tough and you’re not hard, you’re not winning."

TRADE: We have acquired Kurtis MacDermid from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Zack MacEwen.

Les #Sens font l'acquisition de l'ailier Kurtis MacDermid du New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/NLELcfqA0a
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 3, 2025

Added Green: “You watch playoff hockey and how hard it is, how physical it is. And that’s the exciting part of our game. The physicality is part of the excitement, winning the puck, getting in front of the net, scratching and clawing to score, scratching and clawing to win. Sacrificing, being courageous. That’s team toughness. And we’ve taken a step in that area.”

Then, two days after saying "toughness" is more of a team-wide trait than something individual players must have, Ottawa pulled the trigger on the deal for MacDermid, a 6-foot-5, 233-pound brawler with 391 career penalty minutes.

MacDermid arrived less than 48 hours after a heated preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens reignited questions about Ottawa’s toughness following several scrums and losses on the fight card.

Despite his earlier comments, Green quickly pivoted after the trade, calling MacDermid one of the league’s most respected heavyweights.

Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green speaks to the media.Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

“He’s one of the tougher guys in the league,” Green said. “He’s a tremendous teammate. He sticks up for his whole team. He’s a smart individual. He understands the game.”

MacDermid, 31, brings nearly a decade of NHL experience and familiarity with Green, who coached him during his brief stint with the Devils in the 2023-24 season.

It didn't take long for MacDermid to make his Senators debut, appearing in Saturday's pre-season game, logging over nine minutes against Montreal, and making his physical presence known with two hits and one blocked shot, but avoiding falling for penalties.

The Senators will start their regular season on Thursday with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: