Both teams decline. Nobody is going to take Batherson or Formenton right now and Ottawa wouldn't retain salary on a player who's signed until 2027 anyhow.

Ottawa is not in any place to get rid of their first line RW on an amazing contract, let alone retain any of it if he is traded. It would take much more to pull him out of Pierre's hands.

Amazing contract? 4.975 million AAV is about what a middle 6 player capable of around 45 points per year when playing in the top 6 is worth. Batherson got 44 points for the first time last year. If his production goes up from there then it'll be a team friendly contract.

Also 1st line / 2nd line w/e... Tkachuk, Debrincat and Giroux are all better on the wings than Batherson right now.

44 points in 46 games 😐

yup and zero points in the other 36 games his team played.

Yeah almost like he was injured for those 36 games