Why is Ottawa trading Hoffman? He isn't expiring. Weren't they trying to convince Karlsson to stay? It almost seems like this could be interpreted as Bob saying "Senators no longer trying to convince Erik Karlsson to stay".
If it ends up being a "hockey trade" then forget everything I said.
The Senators have a 68 million dollar budget for player salaries.
They have around 67M committed to 18 players next season.
They have to pay Mark Stone, and then if they keep Ceci and Claesson both of them as well.
They also then have to fill out their roster with another 2-4 skaters depending on who they keep out of those players.
It may not be the entire reason they are trying to trade Hoffman, but the numbers are far too coincidental for this not to be a salary oriented move. Hoffman is one of the only players the Senators have that would clear enough salary to pay Mark Stone (at least his 1st year if the contract is backloaded), and actually bring them value back in the deal.