The Ottawa Senators 2024 NHL trade deadline was far too influenced by the Pierre Dorion management regime. It’s not all that different today. Staios didn’t want to be GM, and here he is right now. Therefore, it was an excellent opportunity for Staios to learn and grow as an NHL GM.
What Should the Senators Have Done?
When you over-analyze the Tarasenko trade, you find it wasn’t that bad after all. It is very nice to help to play in South Beach for the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff run. Anyway, the problem Tarasenko invariably found himself, was in between the first and second line. Just imagine if he got hot for 82 games and put up 40 goals. Probably the ice time isn’t there at this point in his career. Overall throughout his career, Vladimir Tarasenko‘s statistics are incredible and consistent. For example, in non-injured years, his annual range of goals per 60 minutes has always been between 0.9 and 1.6. What a sniper.
What Else Could They Have Done?
The Senators influence from Pierre Dorion still reflects in other ways. That is to say, the Senators are a close-knit organization. For example, Mark Kastelic was said to have been being shopped, with no suitors. That is interesting. Anyway, one day later, he stayed on the ice after the game shooting by himself for over an hour. Dominik Kubalik has been grossly underproductive. No fault to the Senators organization or the player, Kubalik just wasn’t able to be a complete enough player as the Sens required. Oddly enough, goals and points are what Kubalik needs to achieve that, and didn’t do it in Ottawa. His 10 goals and four assists through 57 games so far, just haven’t been good enough. For whatever reason, and perhaps if Jiri Smejkal had stuck around, the season would’ve gone differently. It just seemed like he never really found enough chemistry to produce at an acceptable level.
Waiting for Erik Brannstrom to Hit his Stride
Another interesting move to not make at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline for the Ottawa Senators was Erik Brannstrom. He remains a very talented defender. In contrast, he has struggled to earn that ice time in Ottawa to let his talent shine through. There has just been too much competition. Not only on the left side but also for offensively-minded defencemen. He never really embraced his assigned role, and maybe rightfully so. The offseason will be interesting, coming off this season at $2 million and as an upcoming RFA. However, like many Senators who have been through the D.J. Smith days, this is a tight group.
There is a conversation to have on Mathieu Joseph. When he’s playing well and healthy, and playing with top players, he has a high PPG. Whether you can take him at his lows because you know of the upside. In any sense, he is difficult to trade. If he’s hot, you want him, and if he’s cold, he doesn’t garner any value.
In a minor deal for Staios’ club, they did claim Boris Katchouk off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks. Katchouk is a player that you don’t want to meet in the corners. He might actually be a great bottom-six piece as long as given ice time.
2024 NHL Trade Deadline Ottawa Senators Analysis
It doesn’t appear that Steve Staios did much at the 2024 trade deadline. That may be true, but swapping a big name for assets rather than losing him to free agency was a positive takeaway. Despite their failures, keeping players shows confidence in their group. There is talent on this Senators team. With a strong right-side defenceman added in the summer, Ottawa should be able to have matured to find the consistency to compete 60 mins a night to get to the playoffs in 2025.
Main photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
