Although the Senators were sellers at the trade deadline last month, TSN’s Darren Dreger cautioned in an appearance on TSN 1260 (audio link) that their actions shouldn’t be interpreted that they’re looking towards a long-term rebuild. Instead, he suggests that Ottawa is leaning more towards a renovation over a full-scale overhaul.
Of course, that could change depending on which direction their 2019 unrestricted free agents are looking to go. Not only is defenseman Erik Karlsson a UFA after next season, so too is top center Matt Duchene. If one or both of them give an indication that they’re not willing to re-sign, the Senators may be forced to reconsider that plan. If that indeed happens, Dreger expects winger Mike Hoffman, who the team became more and more hesitant to move leading up to the deadline, to be someone that they consider trading.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is set to meet with team doctors on Friday to reassess his fractured foot, notes Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe. He has been skating on his own and also a little bit with their AHL affiliate in Providence as of late and the team is hopeful that he will be cleared to join them on their current four-game road trip. The 32-year-old has missed the last 12 games with this injury but still sits third in scoring with 27 goals and 27 assists in 55 contests.
- After recalling him earlier in the day, the Sabres announced that they have returned winger Seth Griffith to Rochester of the AHL. He is no stranger to the minor league shuffle as this is now the fourth separate time he has been brought up and sent back down since March 15th. Griffith’s demotion suggests that forward Zemgus Girgensons is set to return after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.
- The Red Wings announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Mike Green will undergo surgery on his cervical spine and will be out for the rest of the season. This ends what has been a rough campaign for the pending unrestricted free agent whose health concerns played a big role in him not being dealt by Detroit at the trade deadline. Green wraps up his 2017-18 season with 33 points (8-25-33) in 66 games. GM Ken Holland told Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News (Twitter link) that the procedure is scheduled for April 5th and carries a two-month timeframe for recovery.
Sorry you had to spend the rest of your days with the wings like that, Mike.
Loved Mike Green as a wing, would have loved to get a 1st rounder for him on his way out but I wish him all the best and good health in the future