The Florida Panthers have stated publicly that they're looking to make a big splash in the off-season. This is the second part in a league-wide search for great potential trading partners for the Panthers. Today we will look at the Ottawa Senators. If you missed part-one check out why the
Buffalo Sabres should trade Sam Reinhart to Florida.
Ottawa Senators: (28-43-11 67 points)
Draft picks owned: 1st round (#1 & Pittsburgh's TBD), 4th round (#95), 5th round (#126), 6th round (#157), 7th round (#188 & #194)
UFA's: iMagnus Pääjärv (LW), Chris Wideman (D)
RFA's:Mark Stone (RW), Code Ceci (D), Fredrik Claesson (D)
Does anyone really know what the Ottawa Senators intend to do over the off-season? Defenseman and team captain Erik Karlsson was talked about relentlessly at the trade deadline, but no one offered Ottawa enough for him.
Common belief is that more teams will have more flexibility to make a big move in the off-season and that's when we'll see Karlsson dealt. However, Karlsson won't get dealt until after July 1 because no team is going to give up a lot of assets for him unless he's signed long term. After July 1, he'll be eligible to sign an extension as apart of the trade process.
They also have to re-sign Mark Stone coming off his third 60+ point season in four years. Mark Stone is most likely not going to be a player that the Senators look to move. He's only 25 years-old and can still be apart of a re-build.
Left winger
Mike Hoffman is probably the most likely forward to be moved with two years left with a cap hit of $5.187 million. The six-foot left winger does have a modified no-trade clause where he can list ten teams that he won't allow a trade. It's unlikely that an up-and-coming team like Florida would be on that list.
What would the Panthers have to offer Ottawa for one of their top six forwards? Even if the Sens keep Karlsson, they could really use help on their back end. Unfortunately, Florida doesn't have the defenders to give up other than some additional pieces like an Alex Petrovic, MacKenzie Weegar or Ian McCoshen.
Florida's first round pick would have to be included in any deal for Hoffman. This would give Ottawa the 4th and 15th overall picks, along with Pittsburgh's first round pick (still to be determined pending their playoff run) from the Derrick Brassard deal at the trade deadline.
Aleksi Heponiemi taken by Florida in the second round in 2017 had 118 points in 57 games with the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League. The Broncos are in the championship round of the playoffs.
On Heponiemi - He is dynamic and can create space for himself and his teammates because he makes quick decisions and has tremendous foot speed. ~HockeyProspect.com
Mike Hoffman would give Florida's forward group elite status. Even though they'd be giving up good future assets, he will help this team get into the playoffs. Teams will be lining up to outbid each other for Hoffman, but the Panthers should have what it takes to get a deal done if they want to.
To Florida Panthers
Mike Hoffman (LW)
To Ottawa Senators
15th overall pick in 2018
Alex Petrovic (D)
Aleksi Heponiemi (C)
This deal satisfies Ottawa's need for some blue line depth, gives them a good prospect who is already ahead of the development curve, and a mid-first round pick that they could use on a player or package with another pick to move up into the top ten. The likelihood of a trade like this will depend on what Ottawa receives for Karlsson. Also, if they try using Hoffman as a way to bundle Bobby Ryan's $7.5 million dollar cap hit until 2021-22, then the Panthers won't get involved.
If the Senators use Hoffman to acquire future assets then the Florida Panthers would be a great trading partner. There's always a bit of hesitancy when it comes to dealing with in-divisional teams, but if there's a deal that will improve one's team, it shouldn't matter.
Check back tomorrow as we continue our series on Florida Panthers trading partners as we do a deep-dive into the
Arizona Coyotes!
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