Proposal: Free agency edition Trade Rumours/Proposals [MOD - Stay on Topic] 5

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Here is a picture of Sam Bennett next season.

With that said, he isn't signing with us anyway. Look at our historical signings. We get damaged goods because we overpay or give them too much term. It is a pattern with almost every UFA we sign above a certain level. Dadonov was our biggest most relevant free agent signing and we only got him because it was in the middle of the flat cap where the UFA market was depressed and we offered more money+term than anybody else.

I don't think we have ever signed a legitimate top unrestricted free agent who is near their prime in our entire history. We get the David Legwands of the world, and as good as Hasek was, I'd include him in with that. All of our free agents seem to follow a pattern. We got stars who sign with us because we offer them the best contract when they are past their best before date. Which there is nothing wrong with if they can contribute, but I just want to point it out because people will bring up Gonchar, Kovalev, Hasek, etc as if we signed them in their prime.

Joe Corvo might be one of the only times we scored a relatively big free agent in their prime (2006 not 2013).

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Some team is going to throw an absolutely ludacrous contract at Bennett his summer and I'd rather it not be us.

I would take the over on 8 million if he hits the open market.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Ryan Donato might be a more Sensible target.

Unless the Blackhawks relent and pay him for the sake of chemistry, I don't think he is going to get what a 30 goal scrorer would normally get. I think that being 29 years old that has a pretty consistent career average as a secondary scorer likely makes it difficult for a GM to be fooled into paying him for 30 goals he scored on a basement team.

His season will either get him money, or term, but I can't see him getting both. Zucker just got 4.75M x 2Y from Buffalo, and he actually has a history of being a topline scorer in multiple different situations.

So I look at Donato, and that is the kind of player where the Senators could offer either slightly more money on an overpaid short term deal, or slightly more term on a long term deal with a more reasonable cap hit, and win his services because the ceiling for what he will get is low enough that overpaying still puts him in Ottawa's wheelhouse.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

View attachment 1006309

Here is a picture of Sam Bennett next season.

With that said, he isn't signing with us anyway. Look at our historical signings. We get damaged goods because we overpay or give them too much term. It is a pattern with almost every UFA we sign above a certain level. Dadonov was our biggest most relevant free agent signing and we only got him because it was in the middle of the flat cap where the UFA market was depressed and we offered more money+term than anybody else.

I don't think we have ever signed a legitimate top unrestricted free agent who is near their prime in our entire history. We get the David Legwands of the world, and as good as Hasek was, I'd include him in with that. All of our free agents seem to follow a pattern. We got stars who sign with us because we offer them the best contract when they are past their best before date. Which there is nothing wrong with if they can contribute, but I just want to point it out because people will bring up Gonchar, Kovalev, Hasek, etc as if we signed them in their prime.

Joe Corvo might be one of the only times we scored a relatively big free agent in their prime (2006 not 2013).

All strong points but Hasek didnt sign with us for the contract and he was still arguably the best goalie in the world.

Would he have done so in the true prime of his career? Obviously not. But we had a real appeal to some players, including some top players, because we were a really good team year after year.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

All strong points but Hasek didnt sign with us for the contract and he was still arguably the best goalie in the world.

Would he have done so in the true prime of his career? Obviously not. But we had a real appeal to some players, including some top players, because we were a really good team year after year.

I'll give you the Hasek one but I don't think it makes a big difference to the overall point. We're not a prime free agent destination. Hasek and Giroux are our two biggest free agent signings of all time. Giroux came here because of his connections to the city.

So it's fun to throw around big names, but I think that it is unrealistic to think we can just sign Sam Bennett or whoever.

The Sens generally do well keeping superstars if they acquire them before hand and get them settled into the team like what happened with Ullmark,

Granted, I might be too conservative sometimes with what I expect our pieces to return in a trade, I think free agency is one of those things where it seems pretty objective that we shouldn't expect big fish to come here.

 

[aragorn]

We have a pretty good top nine, we have a pretty good defence when they are all healthy & with Ullmark & Merilainen next yr should have a decent goaltending tandem. I think where we need to upgrade is that 4th line & we could start with a legitimate centre like Halliday or find a cheap one in free agency or trade for a guy like McCaron ($900K) who can fill a couple of roles on the 4th line. I would bring McCaron in as a mentor to Halliday as well since he can also play RW & take faceoffs.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I have no clue what we could offer them but Jack McBain from Utah would be a really nice finishing piece for our bottom 6.

I'll give you the Hasek one but I don't think it makes a big difference to the overall point. We're not a prime free agent destination. Hasek and Giroux are our two biggest free agent signings of all time. Giroux came here because of his connections to the city.

So it's fun to throw around big names, but I think that it is unrealistic to think we can just sign Sam Bennett or whoever.

The Sens generally do well keeping superstars if they acquire them before hand and get them settled into the team like what happened with Ullmark,

Granted, I might be too conservative sometimes with what I expect our pieces to return in a trade, I think free agency is one of those things where it seems pretty objective that we shouldn't expect big fish to come here.

Of course, I'm definitely not saying otherwise. I just pointed to Hasek because there were circumstances that led him here that we could cultivate again, if everything goes right. Simply put, the Sens team that Hasek signed with held significantly more appeal to top FAs than this iteration of the team does (although the changed relatively quickly after Hasek signed).

In other words, the only way we can be a choice for prime-age FAs is if we become a true, perennial contender. We still wouldn't be everyone's choice, but we have never had a top team with an owner that is willing to spend. If we can cultivate that, along with the move to downtown, Ottawa could reach a level of appeal that, while likely still below or around average league-wide, would be higher than in our history so far.

I have no expectations in FA beyond Perron/Amadio/Cousins/Gregor types for at least the next few years.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

With the Avs cap crunch especially if Landeskog comes back, I'd love to go for Malinsli as our 3rd pairing RHD.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I have no clue what we could offer them but Jack McBain from Utah would be a really nice finishing piece for our bottom 6.

Of course, I'm definitely not saying otherwise. I just pointed to Hasek because there were circumstances that led him here that we could cultivate again, if everything goes right. Simply put, the Sens team that Hasek signed with held significantly more appeal to top FAs than this iteration of the team does (although the changed relatively quickly after Hasek signed).

In other words, the only way we can be a choice for prime-age FAs is if we become a true, perennial contender. We still wouldn't be everyone's choice, but we have never had a top team with an owner that is willing to spend. If we can cultivate that, along with the move to downtown, Ottawa could reach a level of appeal that, while likely still below or around average league-wide, would be higher than in our history so far.

I have no expectations in FA beyond Perron/Amadio/Cousins/Gregor types for at least the next few years.

Well those are pretty good types.

If we can get another amadio style signing that’s money

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Need to upgrade on D. Not convinced Jensen will hold up long term. If he slides down to play next to Kleven/Matinpalo while we bring in another big body, defensively sound top-4 D we will be set to be a Playoff team for the next several years.

 

[bicboi64]

Huge no to Bennett. He just hit a career high 50 points in a contract year but can't play the PK, sucks on the dot, need PP time to produce second line numbers.

If he wasn't playing behind the best defensive centre in the league, he'd be getting exposed. Some GM is going to pay him $7 million aav and its going to age horribly.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Huge no to Bennett. He just hit a career high 50 points in a contract year but can't play the PK, sucks on the dot, need PP time to produce second line numbers.

If he wasn't playing behind the best defensive centre in the league, he'd be getting exposed. Some GM is going to pay him $7 million aav and its going to age horribly.

He's also not a very intelligent player. He's fast and gritty and that's it.

 

[GoodinOsgoode]

Ryan Donato might be a more Sensible target.

Unless the Blackhawks relent and pay him for the sake of chemistry, I don't think he is going to get what a 30 goal scrorer would normally get. I think that being 29 years old that has a pretty consistent career average as a secondary scorer likely makes it difficult for a GM to be fooled into paying him for 30 goals he scored on a basement team.

His season will either get him money, or term, but I can't see him getting both. Zucker just got 4.75M x 2Y from Buffalo, and he actually has a history of being a topline scorer in multiple different situations.

So I look at Donato, and that is the kind of player where the Senators could offer either slightly more money on an overpaid short term deal, or slightly more term on a long term deal with a more reasonable cap hit, and win his services because the ceiling for what he will get is low enough that overpaying still puts him in Ottawa's wheelhouse.

It was strange to me that the Hawks did not deal Donato at the deadline.
Seemed like an absolute perfect opportunity to 'sell high' on a player.

I would think he could have brought back a 1st or at least close to that, in a deadline deal.
Similar to what we gave to SJS for Z; solid prospect + 2nd.

There had to teams asking about him. Certainly lots of talk of Ottawa being in on him.
I did hear the reports later of him being a great teammate, so I can appreciate that they held on to him.

Would have to think the Hawks will be pushing hard to bring him back.
If not and he gets to free agency, he will get a nice contract from some desperate GM.

Probably something similar to Batherson's current deal (6 x $5m).
Maybe not that much term but I think he will be getting around $5m AAV based on his 30+ goal/60+ point season.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

It was strange to me that the Hawks did not deal Donato at the deadline.
Seemed like an absolute perfect opportunity to 'sell high' on a player.

I would think he could have brought back a 1st or at least close to that, in a deadline deal.
Similar to what we gave to SJS for Z; solid prospect + 2nd.

There had to teams asking about him. Certainly lots of talk of Ottawa being in on him.
I did hear the reports later of him being a great teammate, so I can appreciate that they held on to him.

Would have to think the Hawks will be pushing hard to bring him back.
If not and he gets to free agency, he will get a nice contract from some desperate GM.

Probably something similar to Batherson's current deal (6 x $5m).
Maybe not that much term but I think he will be getting around $5m AAV based on his 30+ goal/60+ point season.

If he could have brought back a 1st, I think that they would have dealt him. There may have been politics involved with keeping him. If the offer was a 2nd (in a weak draft) as the headline return piece, and he is a big piece in their room right now for Bedard, trading him for that might not be taken well internally.

I think that his value is lower because he has a very established level of production, and this season is way outside of the norm. He also scored those points on a bad team. There are always players who have some offensive tools, and have career years on basement or rebuilding clubs because they got top minutes that would not be made available to them on most other teams.

I would say that his camp likely understands the leverage he has in Chicago, and want an overpayment. That's probably why he isn't signed. They also likely see Chicago overpaying for veterans like Foligno, and think they can get a piece of that pie.

Like I said in another post, I think it will be either money or term, not both. I don't think any team will be sold on him enough to pay 5x5 or more. It will either be 5M x 1-2 years, or 3.XXM x 3-5 years.

 

[Big Muddy]

All strong points but Hasek didnt sign with us for the contract and he was still arguably the best goalie in the world.

Would he have done so in the true prime of his career? Obviously not. But we had a real appeal to some players, including some top players, because we were a really good team year after year.

We were a consistent & good team for quite a long stretch of years. I remember when Smolinski was traded at the deadline to the Senators. He said it was really a privilege to join the Senators. I think we’ve forgotten things like this. Or maybe, because HF Sens is a younger demographic, they weren’t around then.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Wonder what Tampa would take for Isaac Howard (with an extension in place)

 

[bicboi64]

Wonder what Tampa would take for Isaac Howard (with an extension in place)

Offer them former first round talent Xavier Bourgault

 

[GCK]

To Ottawa
JGP 75% retention

To NYI
Halliday

To 3rd team
2026 3rd round pick from Ottawa for 25% retention.

Sens get their 4th line centre who can win faceoffs and PK.

 

[Micklebot]

To Ottawa
JGP 75% retention

To NYI
Halliday

To 3rd team
2026 3rd round pick from Ottawa for 25% retention.

Sens get their 4th line centre who can win faceoffs and PK.

Pageau isn't a 4th line center though....

 

[BondraTime]

Wonder what Tampa would take for Isaac Howard (with an extension in place)

Would think the only thing that would interest them is Yak prospect swap wise, not sure they'd see the prospects as equal but circumstances will alter their hands

Not sure a late 1st alone would be enough, it wouldn't be without the circumstances.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Would think the only thing that would interest them is Yak prospect swap wise, not sure they'd see the prospects as equal but circumstances will alter their hands

Not sure a late 1st alone would be enough, it wouldn't be without the circumstances.

I only bring him up because of the circumstances.

Being in the same division doesn’t help probably

 

[Burrowsaurus]

To Ottawa
JGP 75% retention

To NYI
Halliday

To 3rd team
2026 3rd round pick from Ottawa for 25% retention.

Sens get their 4th line centre who can win faceoffs and PK.

I don’t think you can retain 75%

 

[Golden_Jet]

I don’t think you can retain 75%

That’s why poster had a third team involved, to make it 75%.

 

[GCK]

Pageau isn't a 4th line center though....

He would be in Ottawa.

Tkachuk - Stu - Zetterlund
Perron - Cozens - Batherson
Greig - Pinto - Giroux
Cousins - Pageau - Amadio

PK forwards

Pinto - Greig
Pageau - Amadio

 

[TheNewEra]

To Ottawa
JGP 75% retention

To NYI
Halliday

To 3rd team
2026 3rd round pick from Ottawa for 25% retention.

Sens get their 4th line centre who can win faceoffs and PK.

I would be so game for this even though thats an expensive price

Sissons if available would be someone else to target imo