Since trading Mike Hoffman earlier this week and reportedly re-entering talks on captain Erik Karlsson, speculation has swirled up again around the Ottawa Senators and the fourth-overall pick. The Senators of course owe either this year or next year’s first-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for their acquisition of Matt Duchene earlier this year, and without Hoffman and Karlsson in the lineup many believe they’d be better to try for the first-overall selection a year from now. That pick could potentially be Jack Hughes, who is being regarded as a potential franchise-changing player at center, something the team may not be able to get at #4 this season.
That’s not to say they can’t get an excellent player where they sit this year, with more reports coming out that Filip Zadina may drop past the Montreal Canadiens and fall into Ottawa’s lap. Zadina is an excellent offensive prospect, capable of scoring from nearly anywhere on the ice. The team is also not guaranteed to finish anywhere near the bottom of the league next season, and even if they do could drop out of the top-3 with three bad results in the draft lottery. With that knowledge, the team is still planning on using the pick this season according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, meaning Colorado will acquire their 2019 first-round pick. Things can change right up until the moment they make the selection, meaning the Avalanche need to be ready, but all signs are pointing to GM Pierre Dorion selecting a player this Friday.
The Senators are in rough shape at the moment, dealing with off-ice incidents revolving around players and management, all while trying to prepare for an upcoming contract negotiation with Karlsson. The superstar defenseman has just one year left on his current contract, and is eligible for an extension on July 1st. While Dorion has been clear with the fact that he will make Karlsson’s camp an offer, there is growing speculation around whether the captain will even want to stay with the team long-term. If they can’t come to an agreement quickly, the Senators will have to see what the market is for him in trade, or risk losing him for nothing at the end of what could be another season outside of the playoff picture.
Zadina, Brady Tkachuk or whoever the team selects at fourth-overall will surely be an excellent player in the league and that isn’t something to throw away so easily. Even though Hughes is an attractive idea, the fact is that even the last place team has a relatively low chance of selecting first-overall. There’s also still a core of players like Mark Stone, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Thomas Chabot that will do everything they can to keep Ottawa out of the basement of the league, which could result in a much later draft pick in 2019. It’s not an easy situation for the Senators, but Dorion clearly believed that Duchene would help the team reach the playoffs again and the whole argument would be moot. Now he’s got an extremely difficult decision on his hands, one that could play out poorly no matter what he does.
Not sure what they’re thinking.
if it’s Zadina take him. if he is gone, run to Avs table, slap Joe said outside the head and say “you’re up”
if it’s Zadina take him. if he is gone, run to Avs table, slap Joe Sakic outside the head and say “you’re up”
There’s no guarantee at all that they’ll be bad next year, or at least as bad as they were this year. It’s more than likely the pick isn’t going to be a top one. All they need is Andy to bounce back and it will definitely not be top 5
This is a bad idea
if Zadina is there why is it bad to keep the pick?
There’s a good chance they’re going to be worse next year and the pick could end up 1st overall. (Jack Hughes)
worse than bottom 2? i agree it looks bleak but no one at the end of last season would have said they will be bottom 3 in the league. no one would have said Vegas makes the Cup final. stuff happens. They could finish 1st and drop to 4, could finish 6th and win the lottery. I agree there is no way the Duchenne trade works out either way but Zadina is what this team needs especially with Hoffman gone. someone needs to score and this kid can put up 25+
Honest question to everyone saying they’ll be worse next year, why do you think that?
They have a whole year of a healthy, hopefully both mentally and physically Karlsson. They are making sure Boucher uses the young guys in more prominent roles. That alone is an upgrade. Add in a zadina like prospect and maybe a bounce back from Andy and they definitely aren’t getting a top pick imo. Unless they win the lottery which would just be awful luck.
karlsson isn’t there all year unless he is signed long term prior to the season but I agree, they were not expected to be this bad this year and had poor play from their goalie, poor injury luck with Wideman which was a big loss, a trip to Sweden, an outdoor game. I mean everything snowballed.
That being said, yes they conceivably could be bad but Zadina is a skilled shoot first player which is what this team needs NOW.
There is a lot of pressure for a rookie like Zadina to come in and score as much as Hoffman
While I see your point, it’s also worth noting that Hoffman failed to surpass the 30 goal mark in his career. If as good as advertised, Zadina should be able to do that eventually.
Eventually is the key word here. People are posting they need Zadina NOW – that’s not good…not good at all….
So you Figure you will get Zadina in 3 Years? come on. I didn’t mean he needs to put up 40 his first season but I honestly think with full playing time he can get 25 in his first season. and yes they do need him now, they can’t score and so getting a goal scorer in the draft whether he develops in a year or 3, getting that skill is important.