Seven hours after multiple reports touted Senators had sent centre Derick Brassard to the Penguins, the trade was made official. In a complicated swap held up on several occasions throughout the day and evening due to requiring a third party, the Golden Knights to facilitate 10-piece deal, Senators GM Pierre Dorion acquired a 2018 first-rounder, 2019 third, goalie prospect Filip Gustavsson and defenceman Ian Cole.
The addition of Brassard instantly upgrades Penguins depth up the middle. Brassard, a second line centre will slot third behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Senators also gave up a 2018 third round pick and forward Vincent Dunn, a player who’s bounced between the American and East Coast League’s for three seasons.
MORE: Penguins acquire C Derick Brassard in 3-team trade
Pittsburgh also acquired AHL forward Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights. Lindberg, once Senators property, was originally traded by the team to the Maple Leafs in the February 2016 deal which saw Dion Phaneuf arrive in Ottawa.
For doing their part in retaining 40% of Brassard’s $4.65m salary remaining on his contract, the Golden Knights receive a physical presence up front in Ryan Reaves and Penguins 2018 fourth-round pick.
The Skinny
Dorion acquires a second first round selection in the June 2018 Entry Draft. As a caveat of the Matt Duchene trade in November, the Senators have the option of parting with their first-rounder in June or in 2019. If the club finishes among the bottom seven teams in league standings, they’re likely to keep the pick. Leaving the Avalanche with their 2019 first-round selection, wherever falls.
Cole, a 29-year old left-shot d-man is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. The scuttlebutt is; the Ann Arbor, MI native will be flipped for an asset prior to Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
At this moment, the Senators are without second and third round picks in the upcoming draft.
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The key to the trade is the acquisition of goaltender Filip Gustavsson. With only fellow Swede Marcus Hogberg in line to challenge Craig Anderson and Mike Condon, the 19-year old adds a solid pedigree. The Senators lacked organizational depth in the crease. Named the top netminder at the recent World Junior tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., Gustavsson compiled a tidy 1.81 Goals Against Average, .924 Save Percentage in six games.
The silver medallist excelled earlier this season with his junior club, Lulea, earning a promotion to the SHL for his stellar play. Gustavsson currently possesses a 2.16 GAA, .917 SV PCT in 18 games.
In a statement Dorion noted, “In this deal we have acquired an elite goaltending prospect and a second-round pick in June. We feel that Gustavsson is one the game’s top goaltending prospects, a dynamic talent who has excelled in the Swedish Hockey League as a teenager and was the top goaltender at the most recent world junior championship.”