In an impromptu presser two weeks ago to discuss the Feb. 26 trade deadline, Senators GM Pierre Dorion stated there were “multiple plans” in place pending the team’s performance.
Coming off Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Canadiens, and sitting 29th overall in league standings with little hope of climbing the ladder, it is pretty clear that Dorion and his team will sell at the deadline.
Pierre from Orleans, as the GM is known on sports talk radio TSN1200, has his work cut out for him.
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Dorion already conversed with his hockey ops staff in Florida and scouted consensus number one selection in the 2018 Entry Draft Rasmus Dahlin and top-five ranked d-man Adam Boqvist in Sweden. This week, the Senators GM meets with owner Eugene Melnyk at his home in the Barbados, conveying his thoughts on organizational needs moving forward.
Forwards Derick Brassard, Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Zack Smith, and defencemen Cody Ceci and Johnny Oduya are all rumored on the way out.
Players on two-year deals with modified no-move clauses, Alex Burrows and Nate Thompson are also drawing interest from other teams. It’s no secret veteran blueliner Dion Phaneuf is also on the trading block. However, one of the 12 teams provided on his permissible list must be willing to pick up the $7M AAV cap hit on the final three seasons of his contract.
Moving Phaneuf would have to bring out creativity, comparable to the swap the late Bryan Murray made with the Maple Leafs in which Murray unloaded the unfriendly contracts of Jared Cowen, Colin Greening and Milan Michalek to acquire the former Toronto captain.
The only untouchables right now are Senators captain Erik Karlsson and point-per-game right wing Mark Stone. Set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of next season, Karlsson isn’t yet ready to discuss his future with the club. The 27-year old is taking a wait-and-see approach, studying what steps Dorion takes to improve the team long-term.
The GM mentioned previously, even “Wayne Gretzky was traded.” Dealing one of the league’s most dynamic players is a topic that may be broached in the off-season, especially if Dorion has an inkling Karlsson won’t sign a contract extension. But it is status quo for the time-being.
The Blackhawks, Blues, Blue Jackets, Ducks, Flames, Golden Knights, Kings, Lightning, Penguins and Stars are among teams scouting the Senators diligently of late.
From assistant GM Craig Conroy to vice-president of hockey operations Don Maloney, members of the Flames hockey ops staff attended four of the Senators past five games.
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It is believed the Flames are interested in Hoffman, Pageau and Smith. If the Flames and Senators are to consummate a deal, Ottawa's return likely would be roster players/prospects as Calgary is without their first two selections in the June Draft.
Moving a three-time 25-plus goal scorer in Hoffman is risky due to leaving a void Dorion would have to backfill. On the flip-side, Hoffman could net the partner Karlsson has missed this season and a solid prospect or high pick, depending on the possibility of where he may land. If the Flames offer defenseman T.J. Brodie, it will be difficult for Dorion to say no.
One requirement for Dorion is to add organizational goalie depth. While the Senators currently have four goaltenders on American League Belleville’s roster, TSN scouting guru Craig Button recently suggested Penguins youngster Tristan Jarry is a possible trade target. Flames AHL starter Jon Gillies is also on the team’s radar.
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Marcus Hogberg, Ottawa's only true prospect, is considered the Senators goalie of the future. The 23-year-old jumped to North America from Sweden in the off-season, but the goalie glut in Belleville limited Hogberg to 18 starts, including 12 with East Coast League Brampton.
Whatever path Dorion chooses, he will have an eye towards next season and beyond.
Pierre Dorion already pulled off one blockbuster acquiring Matt Duchene in November.
What does he have up his sleeve for Feb. 26?