Quoting: papishark
See then its a no. You can maybe have 1-2 untouchables for Hertl, but not 4-5. One of your best 4 prospects is coming back or Hertls not moving
ok but "
one of your best 4 prospects" doesn't mean much as the Sens pool has been totally stacked since the 2020 draft. And this was to be expected as they have been rebuilding hard since 2018; but the difference with other rebuilding teams is that they had the luxury to trade stars and significant players in their prime. You know exactly what I am talking about as a Sharks fan (just Erik Karlsson brought back Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris, Mads Sogaard, Leevi Merilainen and Zack Ostapchuk). And you gotta say thank you to Dorion for gifting you back Rudolfs Balcers for absolutely no reason (I still find this move puzzling)
If you don't count Tim Stutzle (53 GP) and Josh Norris (59 GP), this is how the prospect pool has been voted by a community of hardcore Sens fans :
1- Jake Sanderson
2- Shane Pinto
3- Erik Brännström
4- Tyler Boucher
5- Alex Formenton
6- Ridly Greig
7- Filip Gustavsson
8- Jacob Bernard-Docker
9- Egor Sokolov
10- Mads Søgaard
11- Logan Brown
12- Roby Järventie
13- Tyler Kleven
14- Lassi Thomson
15- Leevi Merilainen
16- Zack Ostapchuk
17- Angus Crookshank
Don't get fooled by the prospect number some of these guys have landed. For example, #17 started his pro career with 16 pts in 19 AHL games. He got heavy praise by coach Troy Mann, he plays the way coaches love. #15 Merilainen looks like a stud early on. #12 Jarventie had really good pro numbers for a 18 y/o, he has a very appealing skillset and a deadly shot. #10 Mads Sogaard is a 6'7 athletic monster who started his AHL career 7-0 and kinda make it look easy. Etc
Erik Brännström was voted #3 so it fits your critieria. Only guys "off-limits" here are Sanderson and Pinto. The other guys like that are already on the Sens roster (Tkachuk, Chabot, Norris, Stutzle, Batherson). Anyone could be available for the right player (even though I'd absolutely hate to see Formenton or Greig being traded for example)
Erik Brannstrom and Logan Brown are the most "expendable prospects" from Ottawa not because they suck but for particular reasons.
Brannstrom because the organization doesn't see him as good on RD; and on LD, there's going to be Chabot and Sanderson playing 45+ minutes every game. He won't be able to reach his full potential in Ottawa
Logan Brown because it seems that his dad and the organization don't see "eye to eye". The guy has been very injury prone, only played 14 pro games (in 3 different stretches lol) since turning 22 y/o. Last time he played a significant amount of games, he was a 21 y/o PPG center in the AHL. Might need a change of scenery, bridges possibly already burned.
One of Gustavsson, Sogaard or Merilainen will eventually be available but I can't tell you which or when. All 3 look like studs.