The Ottawa Senators got their best player back in the lineup last night, as Brady Tkachuk made his season debut after a long contract negotiation came to an end. He ended up playing 19:39 in his first game back, racking up six hits, three shots, a block, and an assist on the team’s only goal. The Senators dropped the game to the San Jose Sharks but still look like a team that will be much more competitive this season.
That’s despite a few injuries, including one last night to youngster Shane Pinto. The rookie won’t play Saturday, so the team is down another center option as they try to navigate the early part of the season without Colin White or Clark Bishop. Even before the game though, the Senators were looking to add a forward. Chris Johnston explained exactly what they’re after on TSN’s Insider Trading:
They would like help down the middle, I think they would even take some help on the wing if that’s what it takes to get this done. They’re looking to add a player to their top-nine who can produce a little offensively, help out their group in that regard.
As for what they might give up, they have 11 draft picks in the upcoming draft plus some prospects, so I think Pierre Dorion is open and shopping, trying to add to his team.
Available players like Dylan Strome and Vitali Kravtsov may fit that bill, though Johnston did not link either one to the Senators. As he touched on, Dorion and the rest of the Ottawa front office could likely get anyone they want given the amount of draft capital they’ve built up over the last few years. Not only does the team already have several top picks in place, but those 11 selections this season would be an easy start for any trade negotiations. Six of them are in the first three rounds, meaning they wouldn’t be taking themselves out of the picture at next year’s draft by moving one or two.
There is also the situation regarding Erik Brannstrom, who has been the center of trade speculation for some time now. The 22-year-old defenseman finds himself in the minor leagues still two and a half years after being the centerpiece of the Mark Stone deal. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but not enough consistency for the Senators coaching staff to trust him to this point. If the team moves on some forward help, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see Brannstrom involved in the deal.
Pick up the phone Bowman.
Four games in and already down to two NHL caliber centers. These bottom lines could get ugly real quick if they don’t make a move soon.
I think the Sens should get aggressive and creative.
Despite having a need for him and a bunch of pieces offer, they are never linked to Eichel. GOOD FOR THEM. That tells me they have quality pro scouts. But the thing that changes everything for that franchise is finding a top line center. Where can you find one besides Eichel?
Nowhere. None are available.
But, there is one guy who was one not that long ago, could be one again and would still fit in nicely even it doesn’t happen that they should target…Sean Monahan.
Call up Treliving and Adams and see if the Sens can facilitate a 3 way deal that moves Eichel to CGY and brings Monahan to OTT.
Tkachuk and Eichel in the same room. It’ll either be they get along swimmingly or the great clash of egos would occur. Gonna go with clash of egos.
Agree Monahan would be good for Ottawa and it’d be good for him. Looks like he is being relegated to the bottom 6 in Calgary.
What makes you think Tkachuk has an ego problem?
I don’t read anything in my post that says Tkachuk has an “ego problem”, but he has a noticeable ego (we all have egos).
He’s a leadership impact type player, so he likely won’t sit back and let Eichel take the room if it isn’t in line with his idealogies. If they both aligned, well it’d be a win for Calgary.
Eichel, if you care for my opinion is someone with an “ego problem” (I’m the best in the draft). Putting him into a space with another strong personality of the same age is likely to create conflict.
So far it doesn’t look like Buffalo is missing Eichel.
With the Flames, missing Tkachuk would be a negative and would impact their game outcomes.
For reference I’m not a Tkachuk fan, but I respect his merits.
@ forwhomjoshbelltolled – good for them absolutely, but Ottawa could at least afford both Eichel’s salary and the picks necessary to get him. He’s still damaged good and overpaid as hell, and I can’t see Melnyk wanting to PAY that money or the Pegulas playing ball, but it’s not as self-evidently ridiculous as some of the other hypotheticals forum members are throwing up because they’re tired of the situation and want it to go away.
Kratsov will cost Ottawa a few of those picks. He’s the Rangers top prospect by far and yes his attitude was not great but he definitely belongs in the NHL on a top 6 role and that should fetch a mid round first and a second.
That D man on Ottawa is not needed in Ranger universe. We have an abundance who are better than Brannstrom. If it’s a prospect trade Ottawa will have to do allot better than Brannstrom.
Kratsov might COST a mid round first and a second, Billysbballz. I don’t think he’s worth it, though. That’s the price you pay for a *proven* top-six forward at the trade deadline, not an attitude problem with 4 NHL points on the board, in October, who wasn’t good enough to make the roster and was told off to Hartford. There’s no more reason to consider Kratsov a sure bet than, oh, say, Lias Anderssen.
so they can finish better than last?
The Preds are also in need of a top 9 forward. In fact, they’re in need of 9 of them. :/
Tolvanen is going to be a very good player, at worst, and a star, at best. If they let him play…and play his game…
He needs a center who can feed him the puck. They don’t have a center like that.
Kravtsov for Ridley Greig and a 2nd round pick in 2022
We can add Gauthier too for another 2022 pick. 3rd or 4th rounder