According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Pierre Dorion of the Ottawa Senators isn’t sold that this trade deadline could be a very busy one for the team. Citing the fact there are more sellers than buyers, there are complications when it comes to making trades over the border and money is a major issue, the GM isn’t sure he’ll be terribly active despite making calls and having nine free agents on his roster.
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Dorion does suggest he’ll work the phones up to the deadline and there are some players he would be open to moving but there are also multiple moving parts this season and for many teams, trades are only possible if they are doing deals that include salary in for salary out.
Garrioch writes:
While the Senators have some unrestricted free agents that may interest playoff contenders, the sense around the league is there may not be many deals at this trade deadline because teams are being very careful about spending during the shortened 56-game regular season.
source -‘GARRIOCH: Pierre Dorion has been working the phones but it could be a quiet deadline for the Senators’ – Bruce Garrioch Ottawa Sun – 03/16/2021
There’s also the issue of who the Senators can make trades with. There are more sellers than buyers and among those teams trying to dump assets, Nashville, Dallas, Detroit, Buffalo, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, New Jersey and the New York Rangers are all located in the U.S. and will have an easier time than the Senators making trades with teams also inside the U.S. Meanwhile, the Canadian teams the Sens can do business with and are currently in the playoff race all have no money or free space to add players.
Who Will the Senators Try to Move?
If the Senators can make a deal, the most likely names to go will include veteran defencemen Mike Reilly, Erik Gudbranson and Braydon Coburn. Reilly may be the most expendable and attractive option.
The team will also need to make a decision on Christian Wolanin. If he does not play enough games, he transitions to an unrestricted free agent.
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