All signs point to Duchene’s trade
Scoring ace, management fail to come to deal
It looks as though Matt Duchene has played his final game in a Senators’ uniform.
Unlike the Mark Stone situation where there’s still the chance he’ll stay, Duchene, who has 27 goals and 31 assists, is almost certainly done in Ottawa. The two sides held several contract talks and weren’t able to come to a deal. Push has come to shove and the 28-year-old Duchene is about to be moved.
The Senators don’t want to sit assets, but with the decision all but official Duchene won’t play on Thursday against the Devils.
About five teams have shown interest in the centre.
The Jackets, Nashville Predators and Jets have all shown varying degrees of interest. The Senators may need to settle with Stone before they can decide where to send Duchene.
BRASS HUNKER DOWN
Pierre Dorion hit the road Tuesday morning, but this time it wasn’t another scouting mission to Winnipeg.
Instead, the Ottawa Senators’ general manager and assistant Peter MacTavish boarded an early morning flight back to the nation’s capital from Chicago, then they went straight to the Canadian Tire Centre where they’ll be bunkered down for the next five days to prepare for the NHL trade deadline.
After taking in the club’s wild 8-7 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night at the United Center, Dorion and MacTavish were set to sit down with Ottawa’s scouting staff to bear down on the process of making deals involving the club’s unrestricted free agents before the deadline.
While the Senators will prepare to open a set of backto-back games against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday at the Prudential Center and Friday vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets at home, Dorion’s No. 1 focus is on making deals and the future of the club’s top three unrestricted free agents.
Here’s where we believe the situation stands heading into these final, pivotal days and, make no mistake, this is all pretty fluid:
WAITING FOR STONE REPLY
The club’s top player, who has 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points in 59 games, Stone has an attractive offer on the table for a contract extension and the Senators are waiting for an answer.
He has been a good soldier for the organization and they don’t want to rush him into making any kind of decision.
Yes, the Senators would like an answer by Wednesday, but they’re willing to give him until Thursday or Friday if that’s what it takes because the goal is to keep him to lead the rebuild.
Sens owner Eugene Melnyk and Dorion both respect what Stone brings to the table on a nightly basis, plus they’ve seen first-hand the way he has worked with the club’s young players, which is why a new offer was tabled. The Senators want him to be part of the solution.
The indications are the Senators offered Stone a new deal in the five- or six-year range with a strong average annual value. It has given him pause for thought and the ball is in his court. The Senators value his leadership and there’s little question he’ll be the captain if he accepts the deal.
That being said, the Senators are now listening to offers for Stone, but not shopping him. The first priority is to sign him; however, the organization has to begin setting the table if he doesn’t want to stay here and there’s no question the Winnipeg Jets are the leading contender. But they won’t be alone. Every team headed for the playoffs — including the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights — is going to show interest in Stone. If he goes to market, Stone will be the No. 1 chip available and the Senators know that’s the case.
The Jets had two scouts at Ottawa’s loss to the Blackhawks on Monday.
DZINGEL IN LIMBO
This just feels like it’s a matter of time.
It’s believed an offer was tabled to Ryan Dzingel recently and it hasn’t been signed so it’s doubtful he’s going to be here by the time the deadline passes. The Senators want a first-round pick for Dzingel and they’ll likely get one if the club decides to go that route. A league executive told Postmedia Tuesday that Dzingel may be trying to hold off on signing a deal with Ottawa because his camp feels he’ll get more money from the club if Stone and Duchene are moved.
Dzingel is a good asset, but the Senators have prospects in the organization that can play his role next season.
It’s time to move on.
This deal is likely being held up by Stone and Duchene, but the Boston Bruins have been following Dzingel closely. You’d have to think Chicago would be a natural fit because it’s his hometown and they might want to make a smaller move before the deadline.