Ottawa Senators: Ideal 2018 Offseason Trades, Signings, Targets

Here are some ideal moves to help the Ottawa Senators improve after a disastrous season

The Ottawa Senators came in second-to-last in the NHL standings. They were jumped twice in the lottery, ending up with the fourth overall pick, electing to keep that pick and send next year’s first to the Colorado Avalanche. This is thanks to the Matt Duchene trade.

But here’s the thing – if Ottawa ends up in a similar situation next season, that pick could be incredibly useful for the Avalanche. The Senators need to make several moves so that they aren’t in a similar situation next season, or at least get that pick back. Giving up the first overall pick would be a tragedy.

Presented below are the ideal moves for the Senators over the offseason.

Trades

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The Ottawa Senators want to trade Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan, preferably in the same deal. That could bring back a substantial return, even for one year of Karlsson. All contenders could use his services, and for more than a few teams, it could raise their chances of winning the Cup substantially.

Should the Senators choose not to trade Ryan with Karlsson, they could get a top-tier prospect, first-round pick, and a few other pieces. With Ryan in the trade, that price probably falls, considering the team would then be taking on two contracts with a combined cap hit of $14 million. That changes the number of teams that can take on Karlsson and the asking price.

But consider this – the Avalanche have the cap space and the want for Karlsson. They could take on Ryan’s contract as well, and he would serve a useful purpose on a team without that much depth. The Avalanche have something the Senators want, in their first-round pick, and could add to that return. A return of the Senators’ first rounder next season, a top prospect, and another young player likely satisfies both sides.

Other Potential Trades

Besides the Karlsson deal likely to go down this offseason, the Senators could trade a few more pieces. Mark Stone is likely not in the future plans, and his deal expires this offseason. He becomes a restricted free agent, and while the Senators should sign him, with their cost restrictions it might be hard.

Trading Stone could result in pieces for the future coming back. Same goes for Mike Hoffman, thought to be on the trade block at the deadline, along with Zack Smith and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

All of these players can bring back useful returns that won’t drive up the cost. With the Senators situation the way it is, that’s the best they can currently hope for.

Sign

With all those trades, the Senators are going to need to overpay a few free agents just to reach the salary cap floor. If that’s around $58 million next season, the Senators need to spend around 30 million to reach it.

The Senators can start by paying their restricted free agents, including Cody Ceci and Fredrik Claesson, along with free agents like Magnus Paajarvi.

In the end, though, the Senators will need to bring aboard a few big name free agents. Players like David Perron, Mike Green, Rick Nash, Patrick Maroon, and Paul Stastny could cash in big with short-term contracts.

Bring Up/Draft

The Senators could also booster their roster with the addition of their best prospects. That includes Logan Brown, Colin White, Filip Chlapik, and Ville Pokka. That won’t help with the cap floor, but it will help with the development of prospects for the future. If the Ottawa Senators sell off their present this offseason, then their future becomes even more important.

The Senators need to acquire future assets in the draft, as well. That likely means defenseman Adam Boqvist when they draft fourth, as well as taking the best available player every other pick. The Senators have Pittsburgh’s first, as well as their own fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-round picks. They also have the New York Rangers’ seventh-round pick. That can be a good haul if they draft well.

Sell

If this piece is going to be about the ideal offseason for Ottawa Senators fans and not the organization, then it can’t go without mentioning Eugene Melnyk. If Melnyk sells the team, that’s the ideal offseason for Senators fans.

Melnyk selling to another owner with more money could solve a lot of problems with the Senators.

Karlsson likely stays and sorts out problems with the organization, because it will be a different organization. He signs a contract for the future, and that helps the Senators rebuild. The Senators are able to cut bait with contracts they don’t want, as the new owner likely brings in a new GM.

Finally, the Senators may begin spending to the ceiling, instead of trying to make the floor. That brings them back to contending status, and while they still might build for the future, they have the tools to be a good team now. They can make those free agent moves and retain their current core, and become a threat in the Atlantic.

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That’s the ideal offseason for Senators fans. The rest is the ideal offseason for the organization.

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