The Ottawa Senators announced this morning that they have traded Vladislav Namestnikov to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick. The team has also traded J-G Pageau to the New York Islanders, with the return from New York being a conditional 2020 first-round pick, 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional 2022 third-round pick, as per Darren Dreger. If New York's pick is in the top three this year, it moves to a 2021 first-round pick; the third-round pick is conditional on New York winning the Stanley Cup.
UPDATE: Tyler Ennis has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2021. On Pageau... This deal, not the Mark Stone deal or the Erik Karlsson deal, is the pièce de résistance of Pierre Dorion's rebuilding effort:
Pageau to Isles for a 1st in 2020 that shifts to a 1st in 2021 if the Isles pick in top 3 of the June Draft. No conditions on 2nd round pick in 2020. Conditional 3rd if the Isles win the Stanley Cup this year only.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 24, 2020
It's interesting to note that the Senators and Pageau were reportedly negotiating on a contract extension right up until the last minute. Reports had Pageau seeking a five or six year deal in the range of $5M-plus per season. The contrast in value to the rebuild between what actually happened and what could have happened is stark, and Ottawa thankfully ended up on the right side of things.
Pageau is a wonderful player who wears his heart on his sleeve, plays the 'right way', and can chip in on offence for a playoff team. He's not the 30-plus goal scorer that his shooting percentage bender suggests he is right now. This is a classic example of a team cashing its chips at the right moment, with value at its peak.
There's a very compelling argument to be made that this is Pierre Dorion's best trade as General Manager of the Senators. Regardless of what else happens, that's likely enough to make him a winner on this day. On Namestnikov... Unlike the Pageau deal, Dorion wasn't able to do much other than tread water with the Vladislav Namestnikov trade. The price he paid to acquire the player earlier in the season is basically equivalent to what he got back at the deadline from the Colorado Avalanche:
OTT trades Namestnikov to COL for a fourth-round pick in 2021, per @DarrenDreger
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2020
On Ennis... Tyler Ennis has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft:
BREAKING: The Ottawa Senators have traded Tyler Ennis to Edmonton for a 5th rd pick in 2021
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) February 24, 2020
As always, thanks for reading.