The Ottawa Senators are in sell mode, as the TSN Insider Trading panel reported yesterday. Darren Dreger termed it “clearing the deck” as GM Pierre Dorion looks for fits for several players on his roster. Dreger also tweeted this morning that Derick Brassard may not play tomorrow for the team, if he is even still a part of it by then. Brassard seems destined to be moved by Monday, and is arguably the top center available on the market.
Like we saw with the New York Rangers last night when they kept Rick Nash and Michael Grabner out of the lineup, the Senators will try to protect their asset over the next few days. Though Brassard has years remaining on his contract, the team has decided now is a good opportunity to move him with so few centers available. Dreger even reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins were in on Grabner before he was dealt to the New Jersey Devils last night, but he believes they are holding onto their assets for a potential run at Brassard. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic adds on with a report of seven teams interested in the Senators’ forward, including Columbus, St. Louis and Winnipeg.
If Ottawa really is ready to clear the deck, Brassard won’t be the only player with interest from around the league. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Zack Smith, Cody Ceci, Johnny Oduya and others all have value, and Mike Hoffman has been in the rumor mill for weeks. That’s not even touching on Erik Karlsson, who is both the biggest fish and biggest enigma to surface over the last few days. There’s no guarantee any of these players will be moved, but there certainly seems to be an appetite for it.
Gavin if they get a 5th for Oduya I’d be surprised. he’s been tremendously bad and clearly looks too slow for this NHL
I think they try and move brassard, Smith, and Ceci and if need be Hoffman and keep Karlsson. while he certainly would bring back a haul, this team can’t survive if it parts with the face of its franchise.
My heart was set on Grabner for his speed as much as anything; the copycat league is closing the speed gap with the Pens all the time. Now that he is off the board, I guess I go back to 3rd/4th line center. To get Brassard, you need to clear cap space. May need to unload Hagelin & Hunwick, and to get Sens to go for that, you probably need to give at least 1st round pick and either Gustofsen or DeSmith. Any Sens fans out there – do you make that trade? If not, what would it take (keep in mind Pens would have to make salary swap essentially even).
Just guessing but thinking that with Hornqvist back and Ashon-Reese playing well, I could see Hunwick going somewhere like the Blues as they are looking for D depth for next to nothing to clear space and Sheary going in a deal to Ottawa along with a pick and a decent prospect for Brassard. Could be Gustofsen.
PS not a Sens fan but would like a Sens fan chime in on both of our ideas.
Still need to dump another salary. Brassard is $5M guy and we are against the cap. Hunwick at $1.8M and I picked Hagelin because of his $2.2M hit. May need to throw in a Sheary to get Sens to eat remaining $1M?? That’s alot of movement to pick up one 2nd/3rd line center (3rd on Pens).
Never mind about possible Hunwick to the Blues. Just saw they are one of 7 teams in on Brassard. Do not think they would be willing to help the Pens get Brassard over themselves unless what the Sens want is more than they want to send back in the deal .
Hunwick is 2.25 and Sheary is 3 for cap hits. Hunwick, Sheary and a 1st will probably get Brassard but as I said below I don’t think they’ll get it done and focus on other guys
JR said he is not dealing our goalies so Gustavsson will not be moved. My guess is the Pens won’t get Brassard, they’ll go after cheaper options such as Letestu, Plekanec, or maybe even Cullen for the 4th line and leave Shaehan on the 3rd.
Just daring to dream. Was actually hoping for Grabner but did not happen. The only way JR gets it done is if he can move Hunwick to a 3rd party and send Sheary in the deal with a first. Would be a great move to hedge against injury but as you say, too many pieces moving to be able to do it now. Think that is why they were trying to move Cole earlier and did not succeed but now they need him so need to move Hunwick. Hagelin is not going anywhere cause they need him for the penalty kill.
plekanec is a 6 million dollar cap hit. even prorated the pens would have to move even more in salary.
gustavsson traded. why keep him with Murray and jarry
only way the sens take on money in a brassard trade is if maata comes back. they will likely get a 1st for brassard alone. if having to take back money, it’s going to be for a decent player or you can add another 1st or 2nd.
could see the sens going for maata for brassard one for one. if pens fans insist a hunwick offer
brassard and a fourth
for
hunwick, tinordi, 1st, 2nd
Agreed. If Hunwick is thrown into a Brassard deal, they’d have to throw another high draft pick/prospect along with the other high draft pick/prospect already in the deal. I also find it hard to think that a team (even a contender with cap space and looking for dman depth) will take Hunwick straight up for next to nothing. There are a lot of worse contracts out there than Hunwick, but the two years remaining on his deal (plus the $2m cap hit) for a third pairing dman is money that can go elsewhere. Not saying the Penguins would have to throw anything of significant value back, but I’d imagine they’d have to attach a mid round pick (like a 4th or 5th rounder) to Hunwick in exchange for a 6th/7th rounder/the rights to an unsigned minor prospect.
I’d give two firsts (and toss in a prospect) to get Brassard AND get rid of Hunwick, too.