The Ottawa Senators have just two weeks to sign Mark Stone before an arbitrator awards a one-year contract that would send him to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. His hearing is scheduled for August 3rd, after which there will still be a short window to get a deal done before the one-year deal is awarded. Getting him signed to a multi-year contract appears to be a priority, but what if the team can’t get him to sign this summer?
If Stone makes it to the arbitration award and the Senators decide not to walk away from it, it would put them in an interesting situation. He wouldn’t be eligible to sign an extension—or even discuss one—until January 1st, 2019 since he’s on a one-year deal, which would also put him just a few months from the end of the season and a potential bidding war for his services on the open market. After all, Stone has developed into one of the most consistent two-way wingers in the NHL and put up 62 points in just 58 games during the 2017-18 season. His ability to create turnovers and strip unsuspecting players of the puck is almost unmatched around the league, and he can be used in many different offensive roles depending on the situation. Though there are other top forwards scheduled for free agency next offseason, Stone would be right among them as one of the top options available.
So, if there is any indication that Stone won’t sign a multi-year contract in the next two weeks should the Senators consider trading him? The team has already lost Mike Hoffman this summer to the Florida Panthers, and traded Dion Phaneuf at the deadline to free up some cap space last season. If it’s to be believed that captain Erik Karlsson is the next one out the door, what is left for Stone to accomplish this season for the club? The Senators aren’t expected to compete for the playoffs let alone the Stanley Cup, and could be several years away from contention given that they also owe their 2019 first-round pick to Colorado for Matt Duchene—who is also scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Would moving Stone following his arbitration hearing be the ideal time? Should the team be considering it even if they can work out a multi-year deal with their 26-year old forward? Or is waiting to see how the team reacts this year the best option?
Cast your vote below and explain how you’d be approaching the situation in Ottawa if you were GM Pierre Dorion. Is Stone part of the turnaround, or just an asset to get a head start on the incoming rebuild?
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Ottawa is done. Trade Karlsson cause he ain’t resigning with them. Stone is leaving as a UFA. You better believe Duchene is too next year. So cut your losses and start to get as many young assets as they can and rebuild the culture. They won’t make the playoffs anyway. But it’s not all bad, they have a ton of good young players/prospects such as Ceci, Chabot, White, Brown, Formenton, Batherson, Gustavsson, Tkachuk and Bernard-Docker. So they have a core they can build around in a few years. But they have to stop pretending to do good now. Nobody goes to the games anyway in that location.
As a Sens fan I say “Hell no”. He’s the only bright spot left after Karlsson is traded, on an otherwise dreadful club. Stone should be (and will be) named captain after Karlsson is moved. It would especially stupid for Dorion to trade Stone as it would basically almost guarantee that Colorado gets the first overall pick in next years draft.
Get rid of Melnyk. Re-sign star players. Organization fixed.
This team will not be able to attract players or have guys stay if Melnyk is at the helm.
man if only others had thought of that.
Trade him to Winnipeg -we like quality home town players