IMO the Canucks should do this; but I'm somewhere between rebuild and retool on the fan spectrum...

So...Ottawa gives up three draft picks and two prospects for a guy who will play like 20 games for Ottawa and getting rid of Zaitsev which doesn't need to be done now?

Even with Norris out, this isn't a good move. Losing Norris is brutal, but Stützle-Pinto-Brassard-Kastelic is totally adequate down the middle. The team still does way better by focusing on the Blueline, which still needs work.

Yeah this ACGM is TERRIBLE for Ottawa

First, this is too much value for a rental. JBD and a 1st = 2 firsts. And Ostapchuk is a riser and will be worth a 1st too soon if it's not already the case.

Sens are pretty high on him and he'll probably be their 2nd best prospect after Greig (since Pinto and Sanderson are graduating) very soon.

Ottawa can't spend that much on a rental and they can't afford an extension for Horvat

They'll also need JBD in the near future. Doubt they'll trade him. Objective is probably to pair him with Sanderson later this season

Chabot - Zub
Sanderson - JBD
Brannstrom - Holden/Hamonic

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Regarding Zaitsev, Sens don't need cap space now. Worst case scenario send him to Belleville this season (like they did for Del Zotto last year)

His salary this season is only $2,500,000 (Del Zotto was $1,750,000 last season)

No need to sacrifice any pick to dump the last year of his contract


And with the possibility that the cap goes up by 4 M$, he will most likely just be bought out

The BUYOUT COST is $1,666,667, spread over 2 years too. Very cheap.

$2,833,334 in cap hit for the 1st season, $833,334 for the 2nd year.

https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-calculator/nikita-zaitsev