Michael Stuart: Finding the Right Centerpiece

Sam Bennet out of Florida. He rediscovered his offensive game in Florida, is a meat and potatoes player who's in your face and aggressive. A veteran, but young enough to be part of the team going forward.

They are in some pretty financially tight times and may not want to re up him. His cost to aquire may be a little higher now that he had a decent resurgence but I still think not overwhelming.

Sam Bennet + Gudas

For

Logan Brown, a 3rd, and the rights to Vitali Abramov. This gives Florida some potential in Logan Brown a decent pick and a KHL bound small-skilled winger.

This helps Florida out with their financial crunch taking two salaries off the books, gives Ottawa some grit and depth on the right d pairing and a potential top six center.

I’m pretty sure Florida didn’t aquire Sammy to send him packing 3 months later. They gave up a decent prospect and and 2nd rounder.

Monahan has ties to Ottawa and will definitely bounce back. He’s been a top performer from his draft class and is still young. Not sure what the cost would be, but would be more than Logan Brown and a smallish KHL bound forward, but with Treliving desperately trying to save his job, you never know.

Kadri.

OTT Receives:

Sean Monahan
Milan Lucic

CGY Receives:

Colin White (OTT retains 15%)
Logan Brown
Rights to Vitaly Abramov
OTT's 2nd Round Pick 2022

Ottawa gets Monahan who combined with Norris gives them a solid 1A/1B option down the middle and pushes Pinto down to 3C. They also get rid of the majority of the long term money on White's deal which will help with future extensions for Stutzle and other youngsters.

Calgary gets cap space by dumping Lucic onto Ottawa which will help with their retool/rebuild. They get White who with a change of scenery may produce more offensively. They get Brown who they can sign to a cheap bridge deal and may also help with a change of scenery. Ottawa avoids giving up a 1st by taking Lucic's contract.

Monahan may be willing to waive NTC as he did play for the 67's in junior.

Overall Ottawa gets a top 6 centre, Calgay gets some cap flexibility and some flyers with upside.

Trade with Edmonton for Nuggent-Hopkins and Barrie. Oilers get L. Brown, Brannstrom, Tierney, Gustafson, rights to Abramov.

Arent the sens looking for a top line center?
Kadri isnt it.
Bennett definitely isnt it.

Go all in on Eichel.

Trade with Edmonton for Nuggent-Hopkins and Barrie. Oilers get L. Brown, Brannstrom, Tierney, Gustafson, rights to Abramov.
- granpa

I think Barrie is a UFA no?

I think Barrie is a UFA no?
- Fakepartofme

Both Nugent-Hopkins and Barrie are UFA. Sens would have to be sure they sign before making deal.

Eichel is the only true 1st line centre option here. Not sure Ottawa would pull the trigger with the assets required to acquire him.

The rest of the options are meh. Monahan is somewhat intriguing but he's been underwhelming overall. He's a contributing factor to the Flames not getting over the hump. He could be had for an affordable price considering it sounds like Calgary is looking to tear things down. While his hockey career was successful in junior in Ottawa there were some not so great rumours about him off the ice. He may not want to come back if they are true. But rumours are just rumours.

OTT Receives:

Sean Monahan
Milan Lucic

CGY Receives:

Colin White (OTT retains 15%)
Logan Brown
Rights to Vitaly Abramov
OTT's 2nd Round Pick 2022

Ottawa gets Monahan who combined with Norris gives them a solid 1A/1B option down the middle and pushes Pinto down to 3C. They also get rid of the majority of the long term money on White's deal which will help with future extensions for Stutzle and other youngsters.

Calgary gets cap space by dumping Lucic onto Ottawa which will help with their retool/rebuild. They get White who with a change of scenery may produce more offensively. They get Brown who they can sign to a cheap bridge deal and may also help with a change of scenery. Ottawa avoids giving up a 1st by taking Lucic's contract.

Monahan may be willing to waive NTC as he did play for the 67's in junior.

Overall Ottawa gets a top 6 centre, Calgay gets some cap flexibility and some flyers with upside.
- 7Sens

I may be in the minority of flames fans here but I’m not super interested in moving lucic, especially if it’s going to devalue an asset.

But unlike K-man I don’t think Monahan is going to bounce back and I could be willing to send him alone for the package you proposed.

I also wouldn’t underestimate the sens ability to attract players. You saw with dadanov last year there’s a lot of excitement around the franchise and as the team keeps developing they will surely be coming off of guy’s no trade lists.

Eichel is the only true 1st line centre option here. Not sure Ottawa would pull the trigger with the assets required to acquire him.

The rest of the options are meh. Monahan is somewhat intriguing but he's been underwhelming overall. He's a contributing factor to the Flames not getting over the hump. He could be had for an affordable price considering it sounds like Calgary is looking to tear things down. While his hockey career was successful in junior in Ottawa there were some not so great rumours about him off the ice. He may not want to come back if they are true. But rumours are just rumours.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Acquiring Eichel would be interesting. Seems like the sens have some great locker room mojo and taking a few of those guys out for eichel could throw that off. Not saying eichel has a bad personality but moving 1 or 2 of the frat boys (tkachuck, stutzle, Norris, batherson etc.) may disrupt something and stunt the team’s development.

That said the sens should definitely get into talks. Rangers and Kings sound hesitant to move what the sabres are asking and the sens may be able to offer a better package than what those teams are willing to.

As far as monahan goes I think that would say more about what the sens see in Norris’ potential to become a 1C within a year or two.

I wouldn’t be surprised about the rumours as even in Ontario I’ve heard of some off-ice antics between him and Gaudreau in Calgary. Only thing that may is that I was under the impression he was a pretty good kid coming in (draft pundits called him captain material) and got involved with JG who from what I’ve heard was a notorious partier back in his BC days. That said as I grew up I learned that even seemingly innocent OHL players weren’t as good as what they appeared.

Both Nugent-Hopkins and Barrie are UFA. Sens would have to be sure they sign before making deal.
- granpa

Weren't you the guy bellyaching about asset management when they didn't get like a 6th round pick before Abramov decided to sign in the KHL? Why on Earth would you give up high-quality assets like Brannstrom and Gustavsson for a pair of players that you could just sign as UFA? Those guys either want to be part of a good young team and will explicitly sign on for that as UFA, or else you really don't want them as centrepiece players.

I may be in the minority of flames fans here but I’m not super interested in moving lucic, especially if it’s going to devalue an asset.

But unlike K-man I don’t think Monahan is going to bounce back and I could be willing to send him alone for the package you proposed.

I also wouldn’t underestimate the sens ability to attract players. You saw with dadanov last year there’s a lot of excitement around the franchise and as the team keeps developing they will surely be coming off of guy’s no trade lists.
- RedC21

I agree on Lucic, not sure I want him going anywhere. We have enough pillow fighters on the team best not send out one that isn’t. Sutter really seems to like Looch and if we lose Gio to Seattle, I can see him getting the C.

Have Philly pay Giroux' bonus and then make the deal. Would be a good stop gap and vet that would be fine for Eugene's pocket book.

Arent the sens looking for a top line center?
Kadri isnt it.
Bennett definitely isnt it.

Go all in on Eichel.
- Fakepartofme

And what would it take for Eichel
Stutzle or Norris and that’s just the tip of the start

And what would it take for Eichel
Stutzle or Norris and that’s just the tip of the start
- sens4life1971

Eichel would not be a step forward. Escalates expectations and sets up everyone, especially the kids, to be labelled as under achievers. Next year needs to be another growth year.

I have one vote and it is for Kadri.

And what would it take for Eichel
Stutzle or Norris and that’s just the tip of the start
- sens4life1971

Eichel is an upgrade over Norris. If you can somehow nab Eichel without giving up Stutzle or Tkachuk, you gotta pull the trigger.

However, I think Norris is non-starter for management due to the friendship he has with Tkachuk.

Sam Bennet out of Florida. He rediscovered his offensive game in Florida, is a meat and potatoes player who's in your face and aggressive. A veteran, but young enough to be part of the team going forward.

They are in some pretty financially tight times and may not want to re up him. His cost to aquire may be a little higher now that he had a decent resurgence but I still think not overwhelming.

Sam Bennet + Gudas

For

Logan Brown, a 3rd, and the rights to Vitali Abramov. This gives Florida some potential in Logan Brown a decent pick and a KHL bound small-skilled winger.

This helps Florida out with their financial crunch taking two salaries off the books, gives Ottawa some grit and depth on the right d pairing and a potential top six center.
- MarkStoned

I like your train of thought but I agree with the above post about the fact that Panthers will do everything to keep him.

Also I'm not sold on 10-15 games as a sample size. He is not a #1 center and I'm not sold he's a #2 on a cup contending team

Eichel is an upgrade over Norris. If you can somehow nab Eichel without giving up Stutzle or Tkachuk, you gotta pull the trigger.

However, I think Norris is non-starter for management due to the friendship he has with Tkachuk.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I like the first part but friendships can determine this decision. If it's just skill, I would give up anyone for Eichel. He is a superstar level player when healthy and that's something Ottawa doesn't have. And my not have at all if not for Stutzle

Kadri.
- spatso

Sorry but turns 31 in september, best years are way behind him.

No thanks

From Buffalo: Eichel, Skinner

From Ottawa: 2021 1st, White, one of Dadanov or Murray, Grieg

Cost of taking Skinner contact is worth at least 2 firsts. White goes back to make space at center and for money. I would prefer Murray going back but one of him or Daddy have to go back for $. Grieg would hurt but have to give them something.

Norris becomes 2C, Pinto and Brown and Tierney slot in at 3C/4C, where they should.

The key here is the Skinner contract, prob the most untradeable in all of hockey.

Thoughts?

I would prefer Giroux. Maybe Kuznetsov out of Wash? Make a Russian line with Daddy and Sokolov?

Arent the sens looking for a top line center?
Kadri isnt it.
Bennett definitely isnt it.

Go all in on Eichel.
- Fakepartofme

See, that's just it. The Senators need to decide whether they need a veteran #2C to complement the existing offensive lines, or a younger #1C to effectively restructure the offensive lines. To answer that question, the Senators need to also decide if the talk about Stutzle eventually becoming a #1C was just horse$hit, or if they actually have a plan to support that development. If so, there's no way you invest the assets it would take to land a guy like Eichel, and it's more about a #2C guy... where the likes of Monahan or Kadri might be just fine for a couple seasons.

See, that's just it. The Senators need to decide whether they need a veteran #2C to complement the existing offensive lines, or a younger #1C to effectively restructure the offensive lines. To answer that question, the Senators need to also decide if the talk about Stutzle eventually becoming a #1C was just horse$hit, or if they actually have a plan to support that development. If so, there's no way you invest the assets it would take to land a guy like Eichel, and it's more about a #2C guy... where the likes of Monahan or Kadri might be just fine for a couple seasons.
- khawk

Not a lot of centre depth in this draft. They have the assets to make that choice though. I guess it depends if they think Norris can be that guy. He's shown amazing growth and looks like he will be a great player, but I don't think he's there to stack up against the "real" number 1 young centremen.