Senators’ GM Says NHL Trade Deadline Is Looking Quiet For Sellers

In a comment that won’t be seen as great news for fans who love trades or for teams looking to offload assets ahead of this year’s trade deadline, Ottawa Senators’ GM Pierre Dorion says right now the phone isn’t really ringing off the hook and that other GMs he’s talked to says things are incredibly quiet.

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“Everyone knows that we’re not in a playoff hunt,” Dorion said. And, while the team is looking to play meaningful games this season, the Senators are certain to be sellers this year and it doesn’t appear there are many teams buying. “I think it will get busier in the next 10 days or so” and for the Senators, he believes moves of their moves will come at the NHL Entry Draft or in the summer instead of right away.

Dorion isn’t the only person who has commented that this year’s trade deadline is looking like it might be a lot of hype without a ton of action. There are always trades that inevitably go down and some teams will make moves, but pending UFAs are signing with their teams — Joe Pavelski and Rasmus Ristolainen just signed in the past 48 hours — and some players won’t move based on their respective teams either not getting what they want in return or some franchises will opt to keep their players.

Part of the inaction might be the asking price of certain players. As those prices come down, there could be more movement. It could also be that not every team who will be deemed a seller knows exactly where they sit. Clubs competing for a playoff spot might not be in the next week and that could shift the outlook of the trade deadline.

For the Senators, they have a few pieces to sell and at the very least, it appears Dorion is sending a message out to a number of other teams suggesting they not be afraid to give him a call. He’s open for business.

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