On the Ottawa Senators …
Darren Dreger: The Senators need to make a hockey trade. The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the multiple teams that are interested in Derick Brassard.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger on TSN said the Ottawa Senators could still move Mike Hoffman, but it’s going to take a lot.
“The door is still open to the possibility of Mike Hoffman being traded by the Ottawa Senators, but it is going to take a premium, premium return for Pierre Dorion to consider it and ultimately pull the trigger because he is so talented.”
adds the Senators are retooling, so you can’t trade him unless you get exactly what you need as you’re going to want someone like him in a year or two.
Dreger was asked if Brassard was more likely to be dealt than some of the Senators other big assets.
“Well, they both are drawing considerable interest,” noted Dreger of Hoffman and Brassard. “In Derick Brassard you get at worst a No. 2 center. Multiple teams have expressed interest in Derick Brassard, including the likes of the Winnipeg Jets and how about this one – the Pittsburgh Penguins. Could you imagine Derick Brassard playing as third-line center behind Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby as the Pittsburgh Penguins try to win a third-straight Stanley Cup.”
said it would take a first-round draft pick plus another asset(s).
Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: The St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning were among the nine teams that scouted the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers game on Saturday. Getting a close look at the likes of Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith, Derick Brassard, Johnny Oduya, Rick Nash and Michael Grabner.
Teams may be leery of Smith’s remaining three years at a $3.25 million cap hit.
Brassard and others know they are in the rumor mill and that could be on their way out.
“I see it once in a while. My name is out there,” said Brassard, who also assisted on Thomas Chabot’s third-period goal. “When the team is not where it is supposed to be, the GM has his right to look around and try and improve the team. You have to think about the salary cap. The next two years, we have six, eight guys we have to re-sign, I think. We’re pretty aware of it.”
Defenseman Johnny Oduya’s stock could be rising of late, and a late-round pick may become mid-round pick. Oduya is a pending UFA.
The Rangers might be able to get a high draft pick for Grabner.
Some teams will have trouble taking on Nash’s $8.2 million salary.