Decision time for the Senators is quickly approaching
Craig Custance: Matt Duchene on where contract talks stand: “We’re still working through it. It’s an ongoing process.”
Scott Billeck: Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion and their head scout will be in Winnipeg to watch the Jets-Avalanche game tonight according to Darren Dreger.
AJ Haefele: There are some people who think that if Mark Stone doesn’t sign before the trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Lightning could be team to watch.
Cody Ceci‘s name has also come up.
Matthew Barnaby: Senators GM Dorion confirmed to on Tuesday that they still would like to go re-sign both Stone and Matt Duchene.
He would not talk about any trade return till they were 10 days away from the trade deadline.
Brian Lawton: “How long before GM”s add this new twist into a trade since it exists already 1way. The @BuffaloSabres traded #kane & got a conditional pick since he signed with @SanJoseSharks Will this year be the year an acquiring club like @NHLJets says to say @Senators trade me #stone.
For say 3 real good assets including 1st round pick but if he re-signs back with the original trading club then they give a conditional pick back to the club that traded for him? Same concept as we have seen the other way many times. @NHLNetwork #Tradedeadline make sense?”
The Fourth Period: Dorion and Pat Brisson (Duchene) had ongoing talks last week, and Craig Oster (Stone) had some back-and-forths as well.
Duchene and Stone have some concerns over the two-year rebuilding process and will need convincing of the Senators future plans.
Trade talks are expected to pick up starting this weekend if no deals are in place. Dorion has already laid some groundwork for trades.
Believed to have interest in both Stone and Duchene include Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.
The Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights have some interest in Stone.
The Minnesota Wild are one of the teams that have interest in Duchene.
Bobby Ryan, Cody Ceci, Ryan Dzingel, Magnus Paajarvi and Zack Smith are other Sens that are receiving interest or are players Dorion is looking to move.
The Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and Islanders are among the teams that have had some interest in Dzingel.
Frank Seravalli of TSN: Contract talks with Ryan Dzingel appear to be on the backburner with the focus being on Matt Duchene and Mark Stone.
The pending UFA carries a $1.8 million cap hit and has tied high career in points with 41 already, and is three goals shy of his career high of 24.
The Senators didn’t really want to trade him, but his trade value is high right now and talks could increase in the next 12 days.
