With no third round pick thanks to the team’s ill-fated decision to acquire Ales Hemsky at the 2014 trade deadline, the Senators wound up acquiring Travis Ewanyk and the 107th pick in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft from the Edmonton Oilers for defenceman Eric Gryba.
With Erik Karlsson and Cody Ceci being the only natural right defencemen under contract, by shedding Gryba, the move potentially clears the way for the Senators to sign UFA Chris Wideman to serve as a bottom pairing puck mover who can play his natural right side. The alternative would necessitate having one of Mark Borowiecki, Chris Phillips or Jared Cowen playing their off-side.