There seems to be another tangible trade rumour out of the Ottawa Senators camp. This one involves their 2024 seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Therefore, let’s try to parse through all of the latest rumours, and take stock of just what makes sense from the point of view of what the Ottawa Senators trade inventory is indeed.
The Summer Trade Rumours Are Flying for the Ottawa Senators
Recently, we also presented rumours on the Senators goaltending, as well as their restricted free agent (RFA) centre Shane Pinto. Now we are also hearing that the Sens are shopping their top pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Moreover, they also have the 25th overall pick from the Boston Bruins. Believe it or not, this pick actually came to be as part of the Alex DeBrincat trade package.
Looking Back At the Sens Recent History With the Alex DeBrincat Trades
On the impact of the Alex DeBrincat original acquisition and subsequent trade out of town for a moment if you will indulge us. Acquiring Alex DeBrincat at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft came with such optimism for the, at the time, General Manager Pierre Dorion. The Sens decided to relinquish their seventh overall pick in that year’s draft in order to land Alex DeBrincat, who had one year left on his deal. Furthermore, with the seventh overall pick that year, the Chicago Blackhawks landed defenceman Kevin Korchinski. A player who looks to be an (top-four defenceman) NHL regular based on his development thus far.
However, as well as you could argue DeBrincat played for the Senators in 2022-23, it didn’t work out. Ottawa missed the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and subsequently preceded to lose him via trade to General Manager Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings organization. It was either that or lose him for nothing in free agency. But we digress. Also, the Senators did acquire Dominik Kubalik, and a few other pieces, headlined with this year’s lower first round selection. Unfortunately, the Senators were unable to get much production from Kubalik, and they want to make the playoffs sooner rather than later. Hence, stockpiling the draft and prospects pipeline isn’t much use either for the club’s direction.
This Year’s Offseason Free Agency and Trade Possibilities
So how does all these details affect the club’s 2024 offseason? We aren’t entirely sure either but will give it a try. Speaking at Wednesday evening’s Spring Summit for Canadian Tire Centre and Ottawa Senator season-ticket holders was Sens management and media stirring rumours alike. Senior Vice President Dave Poulin and others were discussing certain topics regarding the club’s summer agenda. When Poulin addressed the media, courtesy of the Ottawa Citizen he brought some clarity to his message
“We had interest in the (No. 7) pick. Teams will call you and say, ‘Are you interested in moving the pick?’ and you don’t know what that’s going to look like because you don’t know what’s going to be available there. You have to stay very flexible.”
Likable RFA was re-signed, Angus Crookshank. Also, some rumours appeared on trade bait. The two newer angles were that the seventh overall pick and possibly Joonas Korpisalo were available. However, as tempting of trade bait as those two pieces may seem, they do come with each of their own unique downsides. The draft pick would be nice to keep to stockpile the prospect pipeline. Now that certainly is a nice to have but definitely not necessary to keep. Although the prospect pool is considered high this year. Seventh could be a very nice pick such as Zane Parekh or Sam Dickinson.
Furthermore, the problem with Korpisalo’s trade value, is he is coming off a poor season statistically, which makes his contract look terrible, term and amount. Now we don’t have capacity for an analysis of why each rank is where it is but let’s provide the ranked list of the Ottawa Senators top available trade bait.
Who do the Senators have to trade:
Name – Position – Free Agent Status at Contract Expiry – 2024-25 Salary – Year of Current Contract Expiry (Blank if Free Agent on July 1st)
- Jakob Chychrun – LD – UFA – $4.6 M – 2025
- 7th overall pick
- Anton Forsberg – G – UFA – $2.75 M – 2025
- Josh Norris – C – UFA – $7.95 M – 2030
- Mathieu Joseph – W – UFA – $2.95 M – 2026
- Joonas Korpisalo – G – UFA – $4 M – 2028
- 25th overall pick
- Erik Brannstrom – D – RFA – 2024
- Dominik Kubalik – W – UFA – 2024
- Jacob Bernard-Docker – RD – RFA
Summarizing the Ottawa Senators Potential Trade Rumours
