The end of the first round is near, with only a small handful of matchups remaining. Last time around, Max McCormick’s departure to Colorado took the victory. Today, Erik Karlsson’s move to San Jose will finally get its long-awaited chance:
Trade: Karlsson --> SJ Out: Erik Karlsson, Francis Perron In: Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, Josh Norris, Rudolfs Balcers, 2020 1st Round Pick, 2019 2nd Round Pick, Conditional 2021 2nd Round Pick
When this trade was made, people thought Pierre Dorion was acquiring quantity rather than quality for a superstar asset. Hindsight suggests that he acquired both quantity AND quality for an asset about to lose significant value due to injury concerns. The perfect storm that has occurred since this deal was completed makes it look infinitely better than it did in September 2018, and nobody in Ottawa is complaining about it. Chris Tierney has been a solid NHL producer for the Senators. Dylan DeMelo established himself as one of the league’s most underrated defenders prior to being moved. Josh Norris turned every head possible in the American Hockey League this year. Rudolfs Balcers remains tremendously promising. Oh, and then there’s that 2020 first-round pick still to come. If the NHL’s reported move to the old lottery system is true, that pick will be a top-four selection in what is widely viewed as an exceptionally strong draft. Trading Karlsson was always going to be a franchise-defining move for Pierre Dorion. A little bit of luck seems to have made it a superb one. Few would have predicted that Norris would develop in the way that he has, and that the Sharks would be bad enough to hand Ottawa such a high pick.
Trade: Smith --> CHI Out: Zack Smith In: Artem Anisimov
Smith’s demise with the Senators was a product of his own earlier success. After cashing in on a few productive years, he was never able to live up to the $3.25M contract he signed in 2017. Looking to upgrade in the offence department, Dorion flipped him for Artem Anisimov. While nobody figured that Anisimov was going to come in and light the world on fire, he’s done just about exactly what was expected. He produced goals at a reasonable rate and eaten minutes when healthy. That’s all there is to say about this one.
As always, thanks for reading.