Speculation: 2026-27 Trade/FA thread/Roster Thread - Waiting for the SCF to be over….

[The Duck Knight]

That’s fair. I’m struggling to figure out Spence’s value. He has put up good on-ice results everywhere he’s been, but he is smallish and doesn’t really PK. So he’s useful, but maybe not super valuable, especially without a contract.

Maybe Zellweger instead? We swap smaller dmen with different handedness. Not sure Ottawa would do that unless we add something else, though.

A year ago it was a 3rd and a 6th. Yes he had a good season, but if anything the fact the Senators are simultaneously shopping him AND looking for a RD is kind of a red flag to me. I'm certainly not going to be happy if he's the best piece in a McT trade.

 

[robbieboy3686]

A year ago it was a 3rd and a 6th. Yes he had a good season, but if anything the fact the Senators are simultaneously shopping him AND looking for a RD is kind of a red flag to me. I'm certainly not going to be happy if he's the best piece in a McT trade.

Beeker is targeting pinto

 

[WhatTheDuck]

We should also consider that Trouba may return after July 1. He stated in prior interviews that this is his first time as a UFA and he appeared eager to explore the process. I think PV will have a "last look" to see if he will offer him a competitive contract.

Perhaps Trouba gets offers from teams in less than desirable markets for his family? It is not always about the highest bidder.

If Trouba returns then we have one less hole on RHD to worry about.

It's entirely possible he listens to interested teams on the open market and doesn't find a fit or enough more money to justify walking instead of just taking the Ducks best offer. I don't know how likely that is though, most teams don't have Martin Madden running an NHL defensemen factory and just simply don't have the internal backup options. Someone will probably get stupid as forced by lack of options

 

[Static]

Greer replacement.

 

[Static]

 

[FiveTacos]

A year ago it was a 3rd and a 6th. Yes he had a good season, but if anything the fact the Senators are simultaneously shopping him AND looking for a RD is kind of a red flag to me. I'm certainly not going to be happy if he's the best piece in a McT trade.

He's basically a more developed right shot Zellweger, but with below average instead of elite skating.

 

[Static]

 

[Hey234]

He's basically a more developed right shot Zellweger, but with below average instead of elite skating.

That's not exactly true. He is significantly better defensively than Zellweger and has more of a proven track record with solid underlying stats. Not saying he is everything, but saying he is just RD Zellweger is misnomer. He would be a solid add as he is a consistent puck mover. Definitely should not be the primary piece in a McTavish trade.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Maybe I'm getting a bit too ansty, but seeing guys that were rumored to leave (Kyrou, Tuch, etc.) are already out and McTavish is still here is frustrating.

Not sure if Ver-bleak either played his hand and will settle on a smaller return like Zegras.

I'm hoping we can acquire Shane Wright out of all the names that are out there

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

These kind of tweets are beyond annoying. Sure everybody is interested in him if they don't have to pay full price for him. Well guess what? I can make that claim about half the players in the league. If you only want him for next to nothing then GTFOH.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Breaking news: pro scouts have watched the games

Downside of making the playoffs. Someone actually watched Ducks games.

 

[AngelDuck]

I think I would do something like McTavish + Zellweger + Nilson/Pettersson for Pinto + Spence.

Swapping Mintyukov for Zellwger makes it a bit trickier if that’s the ask.

It definitely makes us a better team this season and you could argue it probably does the next 3-4 years too. I’m higher on Spence than others are though. I think he can be a Jared Spurgeon type player for many years.

 

[JabbaJabba]

They probably want Stenberg because they have his older brother already. Could be a good duo.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Let me ask this about Spence. From my brief reading he is having trouble coming to agreement on a contract. Can we afford to pay that guy what it might take? Is he even worth what he wants?

 

[AngelDuck]

Let me ask this about Spence. From my brief reading he is having trouble coming to agreement on a contract. Can we afford to pay that guy what it might take? Is he even worth what he wants?

It’s a good question. In this market, I would give him 5X5.5-6 quite easily. I think he can play as a 2nd pairing RHD and that’s easily worth that money in today’s climate. I’m not sure if he’s looking for more than that or not, however.

The good thing about Spence and his contract is that you don’t have to worry about the term so much. He’s 25 years old. This isn’t Jacob Trouba asking for a 6 year deal at 32/33 or whatever.

 

[Static]

Let me ask this about Spence. From my brief reading he is having trouble coming to agreement on a contract. Can we afford to pay that guy what it might take? Is he even worth what he wants?

It's been reported he wants four years at five +.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

It's been reported he wants four years at five +.

Do you think he's worth it?

 

[tomd]

I think I would do something like McTavish + Zellweger + Nilson/Pettersson for Pinto + Spence.

Swapping Mintyukov for Zellwger makes it a bit trickier if that’s the ask.

It definitely makes us a better team this season and you could argue it probably does the next 3-4 years too. I’m higher on Spence than others are though. I think he can be a Jared Spurgeon type player for many years.

Ottawa has two much better offensive LD…I don’t think zellweger would be of any use to them.

 

[AngelDuck]

He’s been sheltered, but he’s quite good at everything he’s been asked to do. And it isn’t just one season either.

 

[MCB]

The only way this is happening is if a team simply wants to screw the Ducks over, and Leo does too... because they are going to match it no matter what, and Leu should know this (I still feel like people don't realize the player has to agree to it).

Not in ea nhl 26!

 

[Static]

Do you think he's worth it?

Yes, he is worth that contract. Because of his size, though, there has to be a specific role for him.

 

[Static]

It's always a bit alarming when a player is moved in back-to-back years. Spence has good results, why is he being shopped again?

LA could be blamed for just pure incompetence since he was moved out for clearly inferior players. Why does Ottawa want out now? The money?

 

[robbieboy3686]

It's always a bit alarming when a player is moved in back-to-back years. Spence has good results, why is he being shopped again?

LA could be blamed for just pure incompetence since he was moved out for clearly inferior players. Why does Ottawa want out now? The money?

+1000

 

[commentsense]

As an Ottawa fan, Spence is really good. I don't know what else would go with him in this hypothetical deal, but as a standalone player, he's pretty valuable. His evolution over last season was something to watch, and when both Chabot and Sanderson went out, he stepped up in a huge way.

He's very good at transitioning the puck, moves really well, and really started to figure out how to defend using his stick and the right angles.

Ottawa is probably open to moving him not because they don't like him, but because they already have Chabot and Sanderson as puck movers in the top 4, Yakemchuk is primed to make the roster next year (another puck mover), and with Tkachuk leaving, Spence would have value to help bring someone in the fill that hole.

Apparently he's looking for 5 years at 4.5-5M on an extension.

 

[JAHV]

It's always a bit alarming when a player is moved in back-to-back years. Spence has good results, why is he being shopped again?

LA could be blamed for just pure incompetence since he was moved out for clearly inferior players. Why does Ottawa want out now? The money?

The Ottawa fan above me, who clearly knows WAY more about this than I do, said it well. But I was just going to make the point that Ottawa might not be the party that wants out. Spence is unsigned and, as rough as it is, he didn't choose to be in Ottawa and might not care to stay there.

Yes, he's an RFA, but that means he still has some control over his contract, and he might not want to be in Ottawa for any number of reasons. First among them is probably that he's relegated to being a third pairing guy when he feels like he can contribute higher in the lineup. And that means he values himself way higher than Ottawa will be able to pay him, even if they really like him.