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Stuart Mcginn The Hockey Writers

Published on Sunday, February 28, 2016

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Senators’ Wiercioch, Chiasson, Prince On The Block

With the hours counting down to the Trade Deadline, the Ottawa Senators are surveying their options.

It seems to depend on the day as to whether they are competing for a playoff spot. After going on a four game winning streak, all hope seemed to be lost after a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. Just two days later, a come-from-behind victory in Calgary brought little hope back and now the Senators sit four points out of the 2nd Wild-Card playoff spot with three other teams standing in their way.

As the clock continues to tick, the pressure is on for Ottawa to make some deals.

Ottawa Senators’ Deadline Possibilities

If there is one thing Senators’ GM Bryan Murray has made clear, he is not looking for a rental. He is looking for a younger player who is ready to make a longer term commitment to an organization. For months, the rumours surrounding the anticipated move of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin have been flying. As of late, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has shown lots of patience and the Drouin watch has stayed fairly cold. On Saturday night, talks surrounding the 20-year-old forward heated back up.

And as the deadline draws closer, news continues to come in.

The waiting now draws close to an end as Drouin is expected to be moved sometime before the deadline. It would be particularly interesting if Ottawa landed him, as Murray confirmed in an interview on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night that he is “nowhere” in regards to a deal with landing the 3rd overall pick in 2013.

Among the Senators’ potential deadline activities, nothing is more anticipated in the nation’s capital than the chance to land Drouin.

Senators That Are On The Trade Block

Outside of the Drouin madness, one player whose name has continued to come up throughout the year is Senators’ defenceman Patrick Wiercioch. While it would be no surprise if he was moved at the deadline – having been largely underused in Ottawa for quite some time – a few other names rose as “available” on Saturday that came as a surprise to some.

23-year-old Shane Prince comes as the most alarming, considering his potential at such a young age. In his first year of NHL action, Prince has 12 points in 42 games. Alex Chiasson, on the other hand, comes as a shock for a different reason. Chiasson has struggled since arriving in Ottawa from Dallas in the deal involving Jason Spezza. This season he has just 10 points through 58 games. If there is interest, Ottawa would do best to part ways with the struggling 25-year-old who serves as a bad memory of the trade of Ottawa’s former captain.

Tick, tock. Time is running out.


Tagged in this article

Patrick Wiercioch Alex Chiasson Jonathan Drouin Shane Prince Ottawa Senators Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League
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