Confirmed Trade: [NYR/OTT] Mika Zibanejad & 2018 2nd round pick for Derick Brassard & 2018 7th rounder

[seafoam]

Personally I think Brassard is better and there is a noticable gap between the two.

Like this for Ottawa. Turris & Brassard down the middle and Karlsson on the backend. Not to mention Hoffman on the wing.

 

[Raspewtin]

I guess technically Brassard is a "middle tier" player in the NHL given that he's a #2C (before first line, ahead of 4th line). Also, technically, "middle aged" (he's 28 and players range from 18-40+), "middle income" (he makes $5.5 million and players range from <$1 to $10.5), and a "veteran (he has over 100 games played) but there seems something rather dismissive there about what Brassard will bring to the Sens. Also, the vast majority of players in the NHL technically fit that description so you should expect that teams end up with a lot of those types of "middle aged," "middle tier," "middle income" veterans players...

Brassard is a 1C.

 

[jcfogerty]

Why do the Sens do this? seems like a very very minor upgrade in terms of offense and overall game for a player 5 years older and more expensive?

It's also a team that traded for Phaneuf. Don't even try to figure this team out.

 

[seafoam]

I think Brassard is getting underrated in here. He's a really solid centerman. Turris now has some help down the middle.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Brassard is a 1C.

Not sure why people dismiss this or just laugh. He has produced at 1C numbers for the last two years. That isn't an accident.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

How can people suggest that trading for Brassard is wasting away Karlsson's prime years? It is the opposite. Trading for Brassard is a win now move. They made their team better over the next few years possibly at the expense of taking a gamble on Zibanejad getting better, which would only reward them in a few seasons.

This is a win now move, and it is fine. Anybody who watches the Sens knows that a playmaking left handed centre was a huge need before this trade. The Senators got that, and now they have a more complete team over the next few seasons.

This isn't even to say that Brassard won't be better than Zibanejad long term. There is always a possibility that Zibanejad doesn't improve, and he is what he is now.

Very excited about what this trade does for Ottawa going into next season.

 

[darko]

Brassard is definitely #1C. Lower end but still #1C. People do realize there are 30 #1Cs in the league right? Some act like you have to be PPG pace to be one.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Brassard is definitely #1C. Lower end but still #1C. People do realize there are 30 #1C in the league right? Some act like you have to be PPG pace to be one.

The problem is that people mean the same thing but something gets lost in translation with terminology. Brassard is a first line centre.

For whatever reason, when a lot of people say 1C they mean a franchise centre, of which there are probably only a dozen or so in the league. Brassard obviously isn't a franchise centre.

 

[Cynick]

Brassard is a 1C.

I expected him to play behind Turris but the Sens really are trying to build two interchangeable top two lines so I guess he could be considered that. (It would make me happier anyway.)

 

[darko]

How can people suggest that trading for Brassard is wasting away Karlsson's prime years? It is the opposite. Trading for Brassard is a win now move. They made their team better over the next few years possibly at the expense of taking a gamble on Zibanejad getting better, which would only reward them in a few seasons.

This is a win now move, and it is fine. Anybody who watches the Sens knows that a playmaking left handed centre was a huge need before this trade. The Senators got that, and now they have a more complete team over the next few seasons.

This isn't even to say that Brassard won't be better than Zibanejad long term. There is always a possibility that Zibanejad doesn't improve, and he is what he is now.

Very excited about what this trade does for Ottawa going into next season.

To me you still look like #8 seed.

 

[jcfogerty]

How can people suggest that trading for Brassard is wasting away Karlsson's prime years? It is the opposite. Trading for Brassard is a win now move. They made their team better over the next few years possibly at the expense of taking a gamble on Zibanejad getting better, which would only reward them in a few seasons.

This is a win now move, and it is fine. Anybody who watches the Sens knows that a playmaking left handed centre was a huge need before this trade. The Senators got that, and now they have a more complete team over the next few seasons.

This isn't even to say that Brassard won't be better than Zibanejad long term. There is always a possibility that Zibanejad doesn't improve, and he is what he is now.

Very excited about what this trade does for Ottawa going into next season.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but....if this team is in win-now mode ,you have quite a bit more to do.

 

[JT Kreider]

To me you still look like #8 seed.

I have Ottawa as the 3rd best team in the ATL.

Just because I think the Habs are going to implode in an epically hilarious fashion.

All you have to do is get in and anything can happen.

They have a solid top 6, Smith and Pageau are solid depth players. Karlsson basically counts as 2 defenders and Anderson can definitely steal a series.

 

[darko]

I expected him to play behind Turris but the Sens really are trying to build two interchangeable top two lines so I guess he could be considered that. (It would make me happier anyway.)

It doesn't really matter where he plays but production wise he is #1C. Steps up in playoffs. You guys got a really good player. I'm hoping Ziba breaks out for us. Good deal for both teams.

 

[Kelly]

Really funny reading the opinions flip flop about Zibby from SOME sens fans.

 

[Riptide]

Dumb trade, 60 point centers aren't impossible to get a hold of.

Tell that to Edmonton.

Would never trade a 23 year old Zibanejad for a 50-60 point center. He has as much potential, the sens are also not close enough to being a contender for this deal to make sense.

This kind of trade IMO defines (garbage trades) in the nhl. Are the Senators better? ya sure but the team still sucks overall and have no chance at a cup.. so y bother. what the hell is the point of this trade? First Silfverberg,now zibanejad. Murray is so bad at his job.

Two things. Well three things. First off, Murray isn't the GM anymore, so I'm not sure how he gets blamed for this one. Secondly, before you can become a contender, you need to make the playoffs. Getting a center who's (hopefully) a better fit then Zibby is a step in the right direction. Thirdly, the NHL is a business. In addition to building a team that can win a championship, they also ideally produce a profit. Making the playoffs and getting those 2-3 home games (or more) means millions in additional revenue. And for a team that is a little more budget conscious then most teams, that's a big deal.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but....if this team is in win-now mode ,you have quite a bit more to do.

I don't mean win-now mode as in sell the farm for Ladd or Yandle at the deadline.

I mean that this is a team with an eye on making the playoffs and succeeding. Holding on to Zibanejad and hoping he puts it together in a few years doesn't help Ottawa towards that goal as much as swapping him for Brassard does.

It isn't like Ottawa desperately sold off Logan Brown or Colin White for a 30 year old. If they bring in Brassard, there is no room for Zibanejad. It makes sense.

 

[darko]

I have OTT as the 3rd best team in the ATL.

Just because I think the Habs are going to implode in an epically hilarious fashion.

Detroit will take a step back and maybe Boston too so definitely can see it. Habs will be better if Price is healthy and I'd have them above the Sens. Washington, Pittsburgh, Isles. So at best I have them as #7 seed.

JMO

 

[SpezDispenser]

It's also a team that traded for Phaneuf. Don't even try to figure this team out.

I can't stress enough how good Phaneuf was from the minute we acquired him to the last game he played before bowing out with his injury. Maybe you don't like him, but don't try to cut him down to Sens fans.

 

[Sherwood71]

Ottawa won this trade for the next few years because Brassard is a proven and very solid #2 center and in addition to this, Brassard is a proven playoff producer and has averaged about 0.75 ppg in the playoffs which is great for the Sens if they want to make a run in the playoffs. Zib hasn't really had much playoff experience, so can't really comment much there. Plus Zib is a RFA next season and if he improves again next season could see something similar to Brassard's AAV or a bit less. Brassard's contract was also front loaded so for the last two years of his contract he will have an AAV of 3.5. Rangers will benefit in the future because Zib is only 23 and producing a little less than what Brassard (only based on this past season since Zib is still improving and Brassard most likely wont improve by a significant amount). This also allowed the Rangers to clear some cap as well. I personally don't think trading the 2nd round pick for the 7th round was necessary on the Sen's part. They probably could have gotten away with trading a 4th or 5th possibly. Overall Rangers come out a bit if you look to the future with the pick and provided Zib continues to improve, but the Sen's won it for the next few years and made their team better in the present and definitely if they make it to the playoffs

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Not sure if it's been discussed in this thread, and I don't want to sound like a Sens fan trying to justify a trade... but to me the biggest issue I had with Zibanejad is how bad he is defensively.

I'm not enough of a hockey expert to pinpoint what he does wrong, but it seemed it was ALWAYS his line that would get hemmed in it's own zone for very long stretches.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

ryan better watch out...this move signals that the sens are no longer willing to put up with inconsistent players. Bobby could be next!

i-n-t-e-n-s-i-t-y

 

[alexhabs26]

Good trade for both team.
Rangers aquire a good forward with less salary and a 2 pick (They need pick and prospect).
Ottawa aquire a top 6 center native from the Ottawa region (In Quebec).

 

[MarkStone]

I think Brassard is getting underrated in here. He's a really solid centerman. Turris now has some help down the middle.

He's on the Senators now. Not giving the Sens players/organization any credit is an hf religion.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

To me you still look like #8 seed.

Being an 8th seed is no reason not to try and improve your team. Unless your team is rebuilding, the goal is to win. Each team stands somewhere, and just because your team isn't the Blackhawks is no reason not to give up reasonable assets to improve when the opportunity comes up. With today's trade Ottawa filled a huge need without sacrificing the farm.

They passed on the lottery ticket that is Zibanejad's potential to another team and a 2nd round pick in exchange for a sure thing that can help them now. Zibanejad was drafted five years ago so he is creeping closer and closer to the place where you have to start questioning if what you've seen is what he is.

 

[Sureves]

Really funny reading the opinions flip flop about Zibby from SOME sens fans.

I haven't seen many of those opinions to be honest.

Zibanejad is a quality 2nd line centre who has a lot of 1st line skills, but is lacking in hockey sense and consistency, which can make him a frustrating player to watch.

I haven't seen a Sens fan before or after this trade who disagrees with that assessment.

As for the trade, money was the biggest reason the trade was made, and that is painfully obvious in my opinion. You needn't look further than the $2M bonus Brassard just got paid a few days ago for evidence of that, but if you want to, consider that Zibanejad is an RFA at season's end and will certainly make more real dollars than Brassard every year going forward.

Of course, while money was the reason the trade was made, it's not a horrible trade for either team. Brassard is the better player now, and Zibby was really starting to run out of chances in Ottawa (I say this as one of the bigger Zibby fans in Ottawa who was often defending him).

As I said earlier, it's not a bad hockey trade, but it's a sad one. Sad because our franchise is so dirt poor that it needs to get creative like this just to ice a competitive hockey team within the internal budget.

Poor Karlsson: if I was him I would certainly be leaving when my contract is up.