The NHL trade deadline is now under three weeks away, but still the league awaits its first big-name move.
One of the bigger stars on the chopping block is Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman. As a premier shooter, a deal for Hoffman could very well bring back the biggest return of any player on the Senators roster. (It's important to note general manager Pierre Dorion has gone on record saying he wants captain Erik Karlsson with the club for life, and he doesn't plan to move Derick Brassard.)
However, it appears the Senators could be wavering on whether to deal Hoffman for one main reason: he and Matt Duchene have formed great chemistry over the last few weeks, as TSN's Darren Dreger noted on Tuesday's "Insider Trading" segment.
Hoffman and Duchene have been the bright lights for a team that, despite wins in three of the last four games, looks primed for a top-10 pick in the draft. The two have combined for 11 points in their last four games and after a slow start following his arrival from the Colorado Avalanche, Duchene looks to be hitting his stride.
Over his last 14 games, Duchene has 14 points, thanks largely to his rapport with Hoffman. Meanwhile, since joining the Sens, Duchene has 20 points, 10 of which Hoffman has contributed to in some way.
There's no question the idea the duo continuing to fire on all cylinders is intriguing, but the fact of the matter is the potential benefits of a deal ahead of the trade deadline outweigh those of keeping him.
Given Hoffman's offensive potential, there is no question he will be a sought-after trade target and could command a hefty haul.
In the same "Insider Trading" segment, Bob McKenzie suggested the asking price for New York Rangers forward Rick Nash could be a first-round draft pick, a high-end prospect, and another draft pick or lesser player.
That seems like a high ask, but the Sens would likely want a similarly large return for Hoffman. While Nash certainly plays a heavier game than Hoffman, the Senators winger has been much more productive over the last two years, tallying 69 goals and 156 points in 204 games compared to Nash's 53 goals and 99 points in 180 games. That works out to a points per game average of 0.76 for Hoffman to Nash's 0.55, making the former the better fit for a club looking to add an offensive punch heading into the postseason.
A Hoffman deal also makes sense in the much-publicized case of Karlsson's next contract. As has been well documented, the two-time Norris Trophy-winner will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season and is eligible for a contract extension on July 1 of this year.
The Senators have made it clear their intentions are to have Karlsson back with the club for a long time. Just one problem there: he won't be cheap and the 27-year-old has already said he won't be taking a hometown discount to stay in Ottawa.
As it stands, the Senators will have just over $35 million to spend for the 2019-20 season - when Karlsson becomes a free agent - but that's with just nine players signed to contracts.
Karlsson could command a Connor McDavid-like contract in the ballpark of $12.5 million per season, or potentially higher. That would give the Senators roughly $23 million to get 10 guys signed - good luck, Dorion. So it makes sense to try and free up some money if they can, and with Hoffman on the books for another two years at $5.187 million per season, dealing him would be a way to release some cash.
It's understandable to want to keep Hoffman in the fold. The 28-year-old has a remarkable shot - one he's used to score more goals than any other Sens player over the last four seasons - and he still looks to have another gear to hit.
But with the team now locked in 29th in the overall standings, it's evident the team is in need of some retooling. With that, the Senators would be better off cashing in on Hoffman for draft picks and prospects to help jump-start their pending rebuild.
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