Senators owner issues statement on their rebuilding and future spending
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk issued a statement yesterday saying that their rebuild will take another year or two and then they’ll start spending.
“The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success – where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL’s salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025,” the statement said. “(Melnyk) reiterated that the Senators’ current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa.”
The Senators are still trying to re-sign Matt Duchene and Mark Stone to long-term deals.
The Colorado Avalanche won’t be using any of their top assets at the trade deadline
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche are lacking scoring depth.
GM Joe Sakic said they may try to make a trade or two before the trade deadline.
They won’t be trading either of their two first-round picks – their own or the Senators and they won’t be trading their top prospects either – Cale Makar, Connor Timmins, Shane Bowers, or Martin Kaut.
Sakic likes their goaltending and defense and adds “if we can add some scoring, some depth scoring, that would be our priority.”
The Avs could look at New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes.
“We’ve been talking with teams the better part of three, four weeks now. But what we’re not doing is moving our high picks and prospects,” Sakic said. “Right now, for any player you’re talking about — they’re looking at players we’re not willing to give up. But we got three weeks to go and we’ll see where we are at that time. There are things we’ll continue to look at — hockey trades — and see how we can get better.”