Confirmed with Link: Sens trade 9oa for Eklund and prospects

[LiseL]

If we're being honest, haven't we been hearing that Eklund played injured last season?

Hurt his wrist in in the off-season according to Shark fans.

 

[SideBurnBarron]

I'm not sure what you believe the value of a 9th pick to be?

I don't think he has a very good handle on the value of a 9th overall pick, no.

Also, if he thinks the Sens are going to build their team the way Vegas has and have success doing it, I don't think that's realistic. That's simply not how small-market teams are successful, especially given how Ottawa is currently constructed.

Vegas can afford to be aggressive because they're a destination market. Florida and Tampa benefit from being no-state-tax teams where players are often willing to take less money. Ottawa doesn't have those advantages. The Sens have to win through drafting, development, smart asset management, and getting value throughout the lineup.

Eklund is exactly the type of player Ottawa should be targeting. He's young, still improving, cost-controlled, and fits the age curve of the core. Those are the types of assets that help you build sustainable success.

The other thing people forget is that Ottawa still has plenty of assets left. This isn't a team that's all-in with no flexibility. They can continue to add pieces over the next few years as the core matures.

The goal shouldn't be to win the offseason. The goal should be to build a team that can contend year after year.

Canes had only 6 players drafted by them

1. Ottawa scouting has been ass recently and doesnt seem like management really cares
2. You need to improve the team in various ways. Draft, UFA and Trades

#2 is correct. You absolutely need to improve your team through all avenues: the draft, trades, and free agency. That's exactly what Staios has done so far. The team has improved every season since he took over. It hasn't been flashy, but it has been methodical and intentional.

As for the scouting, I'd say it's been up and down. There have definitely been some strange picks and I think the organization could benefit from diversifying its approach. That said, if you look at the results objectively and compare them to the rest of the league, Ottawa's drafting has actually been fairly average to above average over the last decade.

People tend to remember the misses and forget the hits. Every organization has draft picks that don't work out. The question is whether you're consistently producing NHL players and core contributors, and Ottawa has done a reasonable job of that.

The bigger point is that no successful organization relies exclusively on drafting. You draft, develop, trade, sign free agents, and continually look for value. That's the formula. The Sens aren't where they need to be yet, but the overall direction under Staios has been positive.

 

[LiseL]

He's a 3rd line forward that brings speed, physicality (155 hits in 25/26), good forechecking and some goal scoring ability (17G last year).

With the cap jumping massively he's making market value for what he brings to the table.

He's not the 2nd line forward we thought we were getting from San Jose, but we didn't pay that high of a price to get him, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

He was also linemates with Eklund in San Jose when he scored 20. Possible re-uniting them sparks something.

 

[OttawaSenators11]

I like the trade personally for reasons many of already mentioned looks like he could easily reach 60 points and potentially more next year especially playing pp1 and being fully healthy.

I find that to be worthy of a top 9 gamble.

Having said that, we need a sniper Cozens has a good shot and Stutzle could score a bunch if he learns to finish more frequently

Still tons of cap space and assets to get another quality player.

Also little dumbfounded about people preferring McTavish, Eklund is literally better everywhere maybe McTavish will score a few more goals, that’s it.

 

[HSF]

I like the trade personally for reasons many of already mentioned looks like he could easily reach 60 points and potentially more next year especially playing pp1 and being fully healthy.

I find that to be worthy of a top 9 gamble.

Having said that, we need a sniper Cozens has a good shot and Stutzle could score a bunch if he learns to finish more frequently

Still tons of cap space and assets to get another quality player.

Also little dumbfounded about people preferring McTavish, Eklund is literally better everywhere maybe McTavish will score a few more goals, that’s it.

two types of players

Mctavish is a PF who will score in and around the net. I would still try to get him

 

[LiseL]

Just for some context,

Eklund just finished his 22 year old season, had 53 pts in 78 games, so 56 pts pace, his career high was the prior year with 58 pts in 77, a 62 pts pace.

At the same age, Kyrou had 35 pts in 55 games, a 52 pts pace. He then broke out and started putting up the 70+ pts seasons. He's since declined (along with his team). does he get back, Wsh is hoping so.

No guarantee Eklund follows that path, but he's young and has the pedigree. We did ok grabbing him imo. There's upside, and the floor is a good player

According to Shark fans, he was playing with an injured wrist last season and put in a shutdown role. Put him on a line with linemates who can score (Cozens, Pinto or Stu if he starts shooting more), could see his production increase.

 

[Carl Karlsson]

I am happy with the Eklund trade, he already is a 60ish point player at only 23 years old, would of had more points if not for his injury last year, still developing, good two way player, good skater (which we need more of), puck hound and fits our style. We need someone who can play with Stu and match his speed and I hope he can be that and put up closer to PPG.

I don't get posters who says he is not worth the 9th overall in a weak draft, to me, a 7th overall performing like that after 3 years in the league that is a known commodity (or better known than a prospect) is great value. He also match our core players age. I've seen a few people mentioned he could be a Stankoven type player for us and that would be awesome. We still have two 1st and a 2nd on top of the long shot prospects who came with him.

I thought we played like one of the best team in the league at the end of last year and had a good serie against the Stanley Cup champ (would have been nice to win some) and competed very well overall ... I tried to post without using his name, but I have to. I thought Brady wasn't great coming back from the Olympics, he sucked and was a detriment against the Canes and I will keep it at that. Although everyone wish we could of gotten Lundell or another great player from FLA, it just wasn't happening. We had only one place he was really willing to go and I think that we got a very good return considering. Depending on how those assets will be used, it could go many way.

Let's see the what the next moves will be. I for one am looking forward to the new look of the team. Go Sens Go !!

 

[LiseL]

BRENT WALLACE (live on CIH after the trade details came out): "Wow..."

*Stunned silence from both him and York*

JASON YORK: "Obviously ottawa likes these other guys a lot (...). For sure there's something in these prospects that Ottawa really likes (...)"

BRENT WALLACE: "Man, I was hoping for more (...) I was hoping for an impact player."

JASON YORK: "I'm intrigued to know more about to the 2 add-ins to this deal, because you're not just giving away the 9th overall pick for Eklund... At least not in my opinion."

Again, says it all.

Those 2 yahoos are still heartbroken that Brady's no longer here, kept making excuses for his poor play.

 

[HSF]

 

[HSF]

BRENT WALLACE (live on CIH after the trade details came out): "Wow..."

*Stunned silence from both him and York*

JASON YORK: "Obviously ottawa likes these other guys a lot (...). For sure there's something in these prospects that Ottawa really likes (...)"

BRENT WALLACE: "Man, I was hoping for more (...) I was hoping for an impact player."

JASON YORK: "I'm intrigued to know more about to the 2 add-ins to this deal, because you're not just giving away the 9th overall pick for Eklund... At least not in my opinion."

Again, says it all.

Yorkie is a huge homer so for him to be disappointed says a lot

 

[SideBurnBarron]

two types of players

Mctavish is a PF who will score in and around the net. I would still try to get him

He is exactly the type of forward Ottawa is missing. I just don't see how they get him without giving up Spence, which creates another hole.

Personally, I would have loved to see them pay a package similar to what Calgary did for Nemec and then find a way to flip Spence plus additional assets for McTavish. That would have been some really tidy work.

 

[SideBurnBarron]

Those 2 yahoos are still heartbroken that Brady's no longer here, kept making excuses for his poor play.

Wallace? He was trying to push him out of town since the olympics.

 

[HSF]

I am happy with the Eklund trade, he already is a 60ish point player at only 23 years old, would of had more points if not for his injury last year, still developing, good two way player, good skater (which we need more of), puck hound and fits our style. We need someone who can play with Stu and match his speed and I hope he can be that and put up closer to PPG.

I don't get posters who says he is not worth the 9th overall in a weak draft, to me, a 7th overall performing like that after 3 years in the league that is a known commodity (or better known than a prospect) is great value. He also match our core players age. I've seen a few people mentioned he could be a Stankoven type player for us and that would be awesome. We still have two 1st and a 2nd on top of the long shot prospects who came with him.

I thought we played like one of the best team in the league at the end of last year and had a good serie against the Stanley Cup champ (would have been nice to win some) and competed very well overall ... I tried to post without using his name, but I have to. I thought Brady wasn't great coming back from the Olympics, he sucked and was a detriment against the Canes and I will keep it at that. Although everyone wish we could of gotten Lundell or another great player from FLA, it just wasn't happening. We had only one place he was really willing to go and I think that we got a very good return considering. Depending on how those assets will be used, it could go many way.

Let's see the what the next moves will be. I for one am looking forward to the new look of the team. Go Sens Go !!

9th overall was our best trade chip so makes sense people are disappointed that we spent it on what seems like a 2nd liner or complimentary 1st liner. Almost similar to a cozens

I think people were expecting/hoping to trade 9th+ other assets to get a better player

lets see how the rest of this goes

 

[LiseL]

Not to say that it's a bad trade, or that he isn't a good player, but at some point, we really need to get a winger that isn't a pass first playmaker to play with Timmy.

Then put Cozens on Timmy's wing. Let Eklund play with Pinto and Zetterlund, see if there's chemistry there. Move Greig to the 3rd shutdown line.

 

[Xspyrit]

I don't think people understand. Halttunen has a bomb, he only turned 21 y/o. He still needs some fine tuning so my worry is more about the AHL team but he could be a really good mid-six winger. This guy needs to be on our PP.

And Eklund, he's the next Jesper Bratt. This is exactly the type of player that was needed : offensive creativity and 2-way play.

Svoboda is not "exciting" but could be a good 4th line C, think Nico Sturm-ish.

Kaliyev - Stützle - Batherson
Eklund - Cozens - Zetterlund
Halliday - Pinto - Giroux
Foegele - Greig - Amadio

Call- ups : Bakke-Olsen, Halttunen, Bourgault, etc.

Ok this is not an heavy Top-6 kind of forward group but this is pretty balanced. That 1st line is all offense, their goal is to put pressure on the opposite team. All the other 3 lines can defend pretty well but they could also create offense, which is more ala Hurricanes/Panthers... all lines can come at you. If you need to match up against top players, use the 4th line or even better, switch Pinto and Greig.

Great trade. Haltunnen and Svboda are not nothing throw-ins, either.

Brady trade basically breaks down to:

• Eklund
• Halttunen (36OV '23)
• Svboda (71OV '23)
• 25th OV
• FLA 1st 2029 (cond. top 10)
• FLA 2nd 2027

I hope there's not a SINGLE Sens fan who would rather have Brady

I have been pimping Halttunen before so needless to say that I am quite happy with how things are unfolding.

Eklund > Tkachuk

 

[HSF]

Then put Cozens on Timmy's wing. Let Eklund play with Pinto and Zetterlund, see if there's chemistry there. Move Greig to the 3rd shutdown line.

green aint doing that

 

[LiseL]

Not getting an analysis from those guys.

Their eyes and brains simply lead them to the same conclusion as most league wide hockey watchers.

Out of desperation, we just grossly overpaid for the luxury version of Matias Maccelli. William Eklund is not worth the 9th overall pick in this draft or any future draft. Not even close.

Eklund was drafted 7th overall in his draft year. What makes you think you'd get more than that with the 9th OV pick? Which dumb GM's pocket are you picking?

 

[SpezDispenser]

9th overall was our best trade chip so makes sense people are disappointed that we spent it on what seems like a 2nd liner or complimentary 1st liner. Almost similar to a cozens

I think people were expecting/hoping to trade 9th+ other assets to get a better player

lets see how the rest of this goes

Yeah, there has to be another winger of similar impact, but I think we did well on this one. I like Eklund and from what I know of Halttunen, he sounds like a very intriguing player.

 

[PatrickEaves]

Eklund was drafted 7th overall in his draft year. What makes you think you'd get more than that with the 9th OV pick? Which dumb GM's pocket are you picking?

Kyle Davidson.

 

[Knave]

It's kind of funny to see a bunch of people in the media who spent years chastising fans about how holding on to draft picks was stupid turn around and whine about us trading a draft pick for a player.

I'm not the biggest fan of this trade because it seems like more of a hope trade than a trade that solidifies anything but yeah... just thought I'd point out how the media including former players crowd is suddenly so sure the draft pick is the prize.

 

[SpezDispenser]

I don't think people understand. Halttunen has a bomb, he only turned 21 y/o. He still needs some fine tuning so my worry is more about the AHL team but he could be a really good mid-six winger. This guy needs to be on our PP.

And Eklund, he's the next Jesper Bratt. This is exactly the type of player that was needed : offensive creativity and 2-way play.

Svoboda is not "exciting" but could be a good 4th line C, think Nico Sturm-ish.

Kaliyev - Stützle - Batherson
Eklund - Cozens - Zetterlund
Halliday - Pinto - Giroux
Foegele - Greig - Amadio

Call- ups : Bakke-Olsen, Halttunen, Bourgault, etc.

Ok this is not an heavy Top-6 kind of forward group but this is pretty balanced. That 1st line is all offense, their goal is to put pressure on the opposite team. All the other 3 lines can defend pretty well but they could also create offense, which is more ala Hurricanes/Panthers... all lines can come at you. If you need to match up against top players, use the 4th line or even better, switch Pinto and Greig.



I hope there's not a SINGLE Sens fan who would rather have Brady

I have been pimping Halttunen before so needless to say that I am quite happy with how things are unfolding.

Eklund > Tkachuk

No to Kaliyev on the top line, let Staois make another more.

I hope you're right about Eklund and Halttunen. I liked that we got Halt in this for sure. That was for sure by design.

 

[LiseL]

He was -31 last season and -45 two years ago

Shark fans say he was put in a shutdown role with bad D and shaky goaltending so probably didn't spend a lot of time in the OZone. Make of that what you will.

 

[LiseL]

I disagree but we are all entitled to our opinions.

Also I’d argue his shot is probably the aspect of his game he needs to improve more so than his skating

Reports are that his wrist was sliced in the Worlds last year so was unable to work on that part of his game last summer. Won't be the case this off-season so we'll see if there's any improvement.

 

[HSF]

Reports are that his wrist was sliced in the Worlds last year so was unable to work on that part of his game last summer. Won't be the case this off-season so we'll see if there's any improvement.

don't think hes ever been a big finisher

 

[robsenz]

I don't think people understand. Halttunen has a bomb, he only turned 21 y/o. He still needs some fine tuning so my worry is more about the AHL team but he could be a really good mid-six winger. This guy needs to be on our PP.

And Eklund, he's the next Jesper Bratt. This is exactly the type of player that was needed : offensive creativity and 2-way play.

Svoboda is not "exciting" but could be a good 4th line C, think Nico Sturm-ish.

Kaliyev - Stützle - Batherson
Eklund - Cozens - Zetterlund
Halliday - Pinto - Giroux
Foegele - Greig - Amadio

Call- ups : Bakke-Olsen, Halttunen, Bourgault, etc.

Ok this is not an heavy Top-6 kind of forward group but this is pretty balanced. That 1st line is all offense, their goal is to put pressure on the opposite team. All the other 3 lines can defend pretty well but they could also create offense, which is more ala Hurricanes/Panthers... all lines can come at you. If you need to match up against top players, use the 4th line or even better, switch Pinto and Greig.



I hope there's not a SINGLE Sens fan who would rather have Brady

I have been pimping Halttunen before so needless to say that I am quite happy with how things are unfolding.

Eklund > Tkachuk

Kaliyev is gone