First off, for the latest Sens updates, please follow me on Twitter at Follow @KevinFr65525204 Give me a Twitter follow, I will give you a follow too!
With less than three weeks until the NHL trade deadline, I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at the Ottawa Senators roster to see what could hopefully be done by Sens GM Pierre Dorion. Dorion has a chance to gain a few assets while dealing away contracts of soon-to-be free agents this summer. Plus this would open the door for a few more of the Sens prospects to gain valuable experience over the final month of the season with the big club. Management has been telling this fanbase since December that its time for the youth movement but the problem is, there are still too many vets occupying NHL roster spots when prospects could be gaining NHL experience now so that when the 2022-23 season starts Ottawa won't get out of the gates slow as has been the case the last two seasons. Dorion and the coaching staff need to do everything possible to have as many players NHL ready for the drop of the puck next season.
Here is a list of the Sens UFA's come the end of the season. Who should the Sens keep or deal? Let's take a closer look at each player.
Nick Paul - He has made no secret about wanting to remain a Senator. This is a team that will always have a hard time gaining the interest of a UFA, so why would management not get a deal in place for Paul?! Naturally, you don't want to overpay for him, but if the Sens were to deal him at the deadline, this team would need to find another vet to replace him which is easier said than done. The coaching staff loves Paul and if you have to overpay a bit, then you get a deal done. Would Paul accept a contract offer of 3 years, 9 million? It has been reported that he turned down 3 years at 6 million. Let's face it, Dorion had to add another year to Michael Del Zotto's contract to get him to sign as no team in the NHL was offering more than one year to him. You can go all the way back to Sergei Gonchar when Ottawa signed him as a UFA, the Sens gave him three years when no other team was willing to give him more than two years. I say Dorion has to exhaust all avenues in getting a deal in place for Paul, before having to deal Paul at the deadline. I know the Leafs and Oilers have called about Paul, so you know they will be calling Dorion about him as the deadline approaches if no new contract is in place.
Anton Forsberg - Dorion struck gold with this waiver pick-up last year as Forsberg has performed well above expectations! But Forsberg is an interesting UFA for a few reasons. First off, does management believe in Matt Murray? I know a few teams have called on Murray and I personally feel that if Dorion could deal him at the deadline or in the summer, he would move on from Murray's contract. If a team offers Dorion far more than he thinks Forsberg is worth, he might bite. But I truly feel that Dorion will hold on to Forsberg for the rest of the season and then see if he can move Murray prior to the NHL Entry Draft. If Dorion holds onto Forsberg past the deadline then that would signal there's a good chance Murray will be dealt and Ottawa will sign Forsberg to a two-year deal prior to free agency to split time with Filip Gustavsson next year. Dorion is in a position of strength with Forsberg as this was a buy low and potential sell-high scenario, or keep the asset because Dorion feels he's more valuable in a Sens uniform now, then getting a 2nd or 3rd round draft that won't be a fulltime NHLer for a few years. The Caps and Oilers have called about Forsberg and with other teams needing depth at this position, more teams will be calling Dorion about Forsberg prior to March 21st.
Zach Sanford - Dorion has to deal Sanford by the deadline so a promising prospect can gain valuable NHL experience prior to next season that Ottawa sees on the roster full-time come the 2022-23 season. Sanford is a no-show most nights and occupies a roster spot that would be better served for a player like Mark Kastelic or Egor Sokolov. Ottawa stands to lose a 4th round draft if Logan Brown doesn't play in 30 games this season, he currently sits at 18 games played with the Blues this season. The Nashville Predators have had scouts follow the Sens around since December, this might be a team that wants a guy with Stanely Cup experience in their lineup. Regardless, Dorion has to deal him to at least get back the 4th round pick he gave up in the deal.
Chris Tierney - Dorion has to move him as he's become a player that truly is taking ice time away from younger players on this team! I can't recall a game in which Tierney was a difference-maker in any way as his game has fallen off dramatically over the last two seasons. I'm sure there will be teams looking for 4th line center depth heading into the playoffs, willing to give up a 6th or 7th round pick much like Gudbranson and Cobourn got last year for Ottawa at the deadline. If he can't be dealt at the deadline, he needs to be waived and sent down to Belleville to allow for a prospect to begin developing at the NHL level. Tierney can't be taking minutes from Shane Pinto as he's slated to play the last month of the season.
Josh Brown - This player is perplexing, to say the least. I don't know what playoff team would think that Brown is an upgrade. The only way a team trades for Brown is for depth come the playoffs, similar to Gudbranson and Cobourn last year. Brown has had no business being in the Sens lineup due to his foot speed while allowing the opposition endless scoring opportunities. If Dorion can't deal him at the deadline, he has to be put on waivers to stop him from taking valuable NHL game experience from either Lassi Thomson or JBD over the last month of the season! Dorion has been steadfast in telling the fanbase he wants a lineup post-trade deadline that will resemble the opening night roster and Brown won't be here next season.
Tyler Ennis - Dorion struck gold here again by signing Ennis off his PTO. Ennis doesn't owe him anything as they say, so if Dorion can get any asset in return for him then it's a bonus. Ennis plays up and down the lineup and gives everything he has every shift. He's great in the locker room and the coaching staff likes him. It's safe to say if Dorion moves Sanford and Tierney, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep Ennis to finish out the season with this young group as he's a solid vet who puts the team first.
I will be writing about rumours on a few Sens players in my next blog. Erik Brannstrom being the name that has come up a lot of late but also a few players Ottawa is looking at. MDZ is another player who I will get into further, plus Dylan Gambrell.
Thoughts on who Ottawa should keep or deal at the NHL trade deadline?! I look forward to hearing from Sens fans as the deadline approaches. Thanks for reading.
Kevin