Senators GM Steve Staios would like to add a “200-foot player”

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Steve Staios is trying to find the right fit for the Ottawa Senators.

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Ideally, the Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager would like to turn that to action if it’s possible before the National Hockey League trade deadline March 8 at 3 p.m. EST.

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League executives have told Postmedia that Staios “is open for business” on the trade front, but he’s not sure he’d put it that way.

“Open for business? I’ve had some good discussions with lots of teams,” Staios said in a mid-season media availability. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t looking for all opportunities to make this team successful short-term and long-term. The long-term vision is extremely important to keep an eye on with our group.”

Staios is still evaluating the club’s core and he’d like to do more to support it by helping bring in some players who can help at both ends of the ice.

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“You can’t have enough leadership and experience,” Staios said. “That’s an area that I’d like to look at. Also, we’re looking at complete players as well, 200-foot players.

“The market will dictate. There may be an opportunity here at the deadline and, if not, we’ll continue to work on it if there’s an opportunity in the off-season.”

The talk is that Staois has been looking for a gritty winger and another right-shot defenceman. He wasn’t about to get into specifics and noted he’s looking at all areas.

“You have these ideas and you go into these situations where you’re looking to execute on something,” Staios said. “Sometimes the market dictates whether that’s an option or not. But certainly I’ve been exploring all options.”

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He has no ties to the core of this club, which includes captain Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig and Thomas Chabot, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to make big changes, either.

“I don’t think it was fair me to get a full evaluation of this team until they started to have some stability in their play,” Staios said. “I don’t want to rush judgement on any of these players.

Now, we’re getting a sense of what this team is all about and I’m very encouraged by the last five games.”

Staios has had his hands full since taking on the GM’s duties Nov. 1. The decision to fire coach D.J. Smith wasn’t made lightly on Dec. 18, but Staios has been pleased the club is starting to turn the corner under interim coach Jacques Martin.

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Martin took a 7-9-1 record into Thursday’s visit by the Boston Bruins and the club was starting to play better at both ends of the ice.

“This is where I expected this group to get to from a level of compete, discipline and details in our game,” Staios said. “I’m encouraged with our last stretch and where we’re at. (The staff) has done a good job hammering in all the details that it’s going to take for us to win games.”

Staios said the plan is for Martin to finish the year, but the club has been putting together a list of potential candidates for next season.

“Jacques and I have a great relationship and he’s done a phenomenal job with this group,” Staios said. “I don’t see that there’s any situation where that would change. But, again, we’re looking at opportunities to make this group better in all areas.

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“We changed the goalies coach because the opportunity and the timing was right. I’m not suggesting that’s going to happen with our head coach, but I couldn’t be more encouraged by the messaging, the execution and where this team is going under Jacques Martin.”

Michael Andlauer told 104.7 CKOF-FM in Gatineau on Wednesday that he had some regret about letting Patrick Roy get hired by the New York Islanders, but the Ottawa owner noted that that decision was up to Staios and that the timing wasn’t right for the Senators to make a commitment.

“We’ve put some names together that might fit,” Staios said. “The off-season will be a great opportunity for us to look at that again.”

The goal for Martin and former captain Daniel Alfredsson is to get this club playing the right way consistently in the coming months.

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“I feel like Jacques, Alfie and the staff are really laying down the foundation for what it’s going to take for the next level to come in,” Staios said. “Is there a certain criteria for the next head coach? There’s a wish list and I’m not going to get into details.

“But there’s certainly a picture of the type of coach that I’d like to see. It’s more than just a head coach, it’s the balance with the staff, the experience, the personalties and that’s going to be extremely important. It’s no different than putting a roster together, you have to keep in mind with coaches that’s the same thing.”

Staios said he thought this club would have a better record at the midseason, but admitted there’s been no shortage of distractions.

“I can go back to Norris being injured to start the season, stretches where we’ve missed Chabot and Shane Pinto being out, the coaching change … There’s been a lot that’s happened,” Staios said. “You don’t want to use those as excuses, but they are factors on where we are right now.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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