On the Ottawa Senators …
Jimmy Murphy: Source has said the Senators forward Derick Brassard‘s name is “definitely out there” and to “keep an eye on Pittsburgh.”
James Gordon of The Athletic: It’s not the time for the Senators to panic and start a rebuild just yet. They do need to make move in an attempt to fix their issues.
The Sens have big contracts in Dion Phaneuf and Bobby Ryan. Craig Anderson has struggled and is under contract until 2020. The Senators gave an extra year to bottom-six forwards Nate Thompson, Tom Pyatt, and Alex Burrows.
If the Senators were to trade any of Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, Derick Brassard, Mike Hoffman or Mark Stone, they’d likely spend years trying to find their replacements.
The Senators could look to trade defenseman Cody Ceci and Zack Smith. Getting some futures for Ceci would help replenish what they gave up for Duchene.
On the St. Louis Blues and the Ottawa Senators …
Chris Nichols of Fan Rag Sports: Elliotte Friedman late last week on Sportsnet 650 talking about Senators forward Mike Hoffman.
“And I think what it’s coming down to again is it’s been such a nightmare year for them that they have to make changes, and he’s got value. One of the teams that I think is looking pretty hard at him is St. Louis. And St. Louis has good prospects. They traded a couple of picks to get Brayden Schenn. They gave up Lehtera and they gave up a couple of first-rounders. But they still have some prospects, some really good prospects, like a Tage Thompson. They’ve got a Kostin, who they took in the first round this year, who looks really good at the world juniors. They’ve still got Robby Fabbri, even though he’s out for the year.
“The bonus with a guy like Hoffman is he’s signed for two more years at a number that you can really deal with. So I think it comes down to they’re going to have to change something, and he’s a guy who’s got value.”