I am not usually one like to make up trade scenarios, and generally scoff (if not outright laugh) at a lot of the ones proposed by the readers in the comments section, but in this case I will make an exception and throw one of my own out there, with names included.
TSN SportCentre posted it's "trade bait" board last night as the week leading up to the draft ramps up, and perhaps the most intriguing item for the Senators (other than Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner's appearance on the list) is the #3 pick in the draft currently owned by the Arizona Coyotes.
If you look at the Coyotes' depth chart for next season, you will notice a few things. They have cap space the MUST to use to reach the floor, and they have a lot of short-term holes to fill. They also need a goalie of the future because Mike Smith isn't getting any younger and the jury is still out on Mark Visentin's upside.
Ottawa, on the other hand has an abundance of similar type players that has created a roster logjam, and some assets that could plug some holes in the Arizona lineup over the short term until the Coyotes' prospects such as Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Christian Dvorak develop.
I think there is a deal somehwere in there between these two teams where Ottawa could package a goalie (probably the younger Lehner), a blueliner (Cowen or Wiercioch) and force them to take the contract of a stop-gap forward (Legwand) who they could use for a year to fill cap space and then let walk with no long-term commitment, Ottawa's first rounder and if necessary another prospect (Prince, Robinson) to sweeten the pot.
I am not a huge fan of giving up 4 or 5 assets to get one or two back, but in this case Ottawa wouldn't really be touching their core group. They would be giving up some depth, but that is something they do have in abundance. I would rather see them do a deal like this than to blow their brains out trying to land an immediate impact player.
Basically, the Coyotes would get a good goaltending prospect who can fight for time with Smith while trying to round his game from unrealized to realized potential, a serviceable NHL defenseman who may yet develop into a good one, and a mid-first round pick in a deep draft.
Is that enough to pry the #3 selection fro the Coyotes and get them to drpo 15 spots in the draft? If it were the 1st or 2nd pick, certainly not. However, that would be a decent return for the 3rd pick, whether it be Strome, Marner or Hanifin (I will put aside my own personal Lawson Crouse lean for the moment).
I am not sold an either Strome or Marner being a sure-fire "franchise" forward or even top end first liners. Both have some weaknesses but both should be pretty good NHLers and have the potential to get to that elite level at some point. I haven't seen enough of Hanifin personally to make a determination myself of where he will be and what his ceiling is, but by all accounts has top pairing written all over him.
Coyotes GM Dave Maloney admitted that they would consider trading down, and not necessarily for a player that would make an immediate impact next season in return. Ottawa has the depth and the potential to make an attractive package to get to that spot, and could also relieve some of their own problems at the same time. Arizona would be taking a gamble on at least one of either the goalie or the defenseman reaching their potential, but they will still get a player at the 18th pick that should be NHL caliber down the road.
The pick is obviously in play, direct from the horse's mouth, and Bryan Murray should be making the call to at least kick the tires on what it would take to make the splash before Friday night.
It could be a win-win scenario for both teams, and would make for an interesting week for the Senators.