The 2016-2017 NHL campaign saw the Ottawa Senators come within one win of a berth in the Stanley Cup Final. Fast forward to 2022, and the Sens are once again slated to be sellers at the trade deadline for the fifth-consecutive season. Heading into Monday’s all-important deadline, Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion will have his hands full as he attempts to strengthen his roster and improve the on-ice product for the foreseeable future. Who stays in Kanata, Ontario, and who is shown the door in exchange for future assets? Let’s read on and find out.
Make sure to check out all of our other NHL Trade Deadline Previews.
Current Status
Current Status: 22-34-5
Division Standing: Seventh Place in the Atlantic Division
Buyers or Sellers: Sellers
Nick Paul
Over the past few weeks, rumors have swirled about his future in Ottawa, and whether or not he will be on the move at the deadline. From a prospective teams’ point-of-view, Paul is an interesting trade chip for a variety of reasons. Paul stands at a whopping 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. At 26 years of age, the Mississauga, Ontario native is a strong skater, powerful on his feet, and has the ability to put the puck in the net.
This season Paul tally 11 goals and 18 points playing 17 minutes per game. His 18 points are two shy of his personal career-best, which he will all but eclipse in the remaining 23 games of the season. Look for teams around the league to kick tires on Paul ahead of Monday’s deadline. Could Paul piece the final piece of the puzzle for a team “on the cusp” of a championship?
Zach Sanford
Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Sandford’s name has garnered plenty of interest ahead of the trade deadline. He is a player who would bring size, grit, experience, sandpaper, and fore-checking ability to teams in contention for a long playoff run. After being traded to Ottawa from the St. Louis Blues this past summer in exchange for Logan Brown, Sanford has been the prototypical leader and consummate professional on a rebuilding club like Ottawa. Additionally, his Stanley Cup winning pedigree would go a long way over the course of a grueling playoff run. From a sheer statistical standpoint, Sanford notched 17 points in 60 games thus far this season with 82 shots on goal. He’s certainly an interesting trade chip and would be a nice addition for several contending teams.
Third and Fourth-Round Picks
Barring anything extravagant, it’s unlikely the Senators will acquire a first-round pick by Monday’s deadline. Instead, they will shift to acquiring picks and draft capital in the third and fourth rounds. In doing so, Ottawa can continue to primarily assemble its roster through the draft by stockpiling picks and prospects. Although times have certainly been tough in Ottawa over the past number of seasons, fans can cling to hope that the clubs’ scouting and development departments can hopefully hit on a few “diamonds in the rough.” Although there’s not a physical player attached to these draft picks, look for the Senators to be quite active on the trade front ahead of Monday’s deadline. Ottawa will be one of the most intriguing teams to follow as the drama unfolds on Monday.
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