Two trades, no deals. That’s where we’re at in the Sens Marketplace, after last night’s deal between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators was overwhelmingly rejected from the Tampa perspective. After trying and failing to add salary to the Senators’ payroll in deals with the Bolts and Panthers, perhaps tonight’s trade that sheds dollars will finally get the job done. Before jumping into the next deal with the Detroit Red Wings, here are last night's results: The Last Proposed Trade To Tampa Bay: New York Islanders 2020 1st Round Draft Pick, New York Islanders 2020 2nd Round Pick To Ottawa: Mikhail Sergachev (RFA)
Poll Summary: Do the Senators accept this trade? Yes – (87/13) Do the Lightning accept this trade? No – (30/70)
Trade Result: REJECTED
--
Here is tonight’s trade: The Trade To Detroit: Nikita Zaitsev, Dallas Stars 2020 2nd Round Pick, Colorado Avalanche 2021 4th Round Pick To Ottawa: Cody Goloubef (UFA Rights)
Why the Red Wings Make the Trade… The Red Wings are earlier in their rebuild than the Senators, and are in a real position to weaponize their existing cap space. The Wings make this trade simply for the added picks in this year’s and next year’s drafts; there’s not much more to it than that. This is expected to be a deep draft, and Steve Yzerman has shown an ability to uncover gems in the second round and beyond before.
While Zaitsev’s contract is excessively long-term, the Red Wings are in a position to fund the buyout that the Senators are not, should the need for cap space ever arise.
Why the Senators Make the Trade… This is about the future as much as it’s about the present. Zaitsev and his contract are the biggest impediment to Ottawa’s blue line being able to integrate promising young names like Lassi Thomson, Erik Brannstrom, and Jacob Bernard-Docker. He’s not good enough to play alongside Thomas Chabot, and it’s unfair to tether a promising prospect to him. There’s no good spot for him, which means that the Senators need to find a way to get out from underneath his contract. Moving him now instantly opens up a spot for a young player.
It’s not an exciting trade, but it’s one that needs to happen. Beyond the immediate impact on the defense as discussed above, this also frees up dollars down the road. It’s a known fact that the Senators are reluctant to spend. Clearing Zaitsev’s $4.5M salary now creates $4.5M in buying power available to the team in a couple years when they are ready to compete.
The price to unload him is high, but by adding the 2021 fourth-round pick the Senators might be able to avoid having to trade a first-round pick like the Maple Leafs did when they shipped out Marleau. Ottawa not being in a do-or-die situation should also help keep the cost relatively low compared to some other salary dump transactions we've seen in recent years.
--
--
On a completely unrelated note, just because there’s no hockey doesn’t mean there’s no Senators 50/50. The Senators are running a unique 50/50 contest, with tickets eligible for a special early bird prize on sale until Wednesday evening. You can learn more here:
As always, thanks for reading.