The Ottawa Senators’ promising 4-2-0 start to this season has vanished after a seven-game winless skid. It’s prompted calls for a coaching change and for a trade to bolster their blueline. Finding a suitable deal this early in the season, however, is easier said than done.
On Nov. 7, the Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch reported GM Pierre Dorion hasn’t given up in his search for a top-four defenseman. He indicated Dorion held talks with the Arizona Coyotes regarding Jakob Chychrun but he’s unwilling to pay their high asking price of two first-round picks and a top prospect.
Adam Proteau speculated that the prospect could be Shane Pinto, who was named NHL rookie of the month for October. While he acknowledged that’s a high price to pay, Proteau said the alternative – being a club that’s top-heavy up front but lacking blueline depth – would be a huge price to pay for not acquiring Chychrun.
To be fair to Dorion, his reluctance to invest heavily in acquiring Chychrun could be due to the defenseman’s long injury history. That includes the off-season wrist surgery that’s kept him off the ice thus far. If the 24-year-old rearguard was fully recovered when the season began and playing well, perhaps Dorion would’ve made that deal by now.
With Chychrun still considered week-to-week in his recovery, Dorion must consider other options. However, he’s probably finding the pickings rather thin in the trade market right now, especially after Ethan Bear was traded to the Vancouver Canucks two weeks ago.
