NHL Rumors: Teams calling about Senators first round pick, plus John Gibson open to trade?
Anthony Scultore
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The Ottawa Senators are done being bottom dwellers and lead off today’s NHL Rumors.
Toward the end of the season, GM Pierre Dorion made comments regarding the team’s willingness to spend come free agency on July 13.
“It’s no secret where we’ve spent the last four years and you can figure that out for yourself, but that was part of the rebuild,” Dorion said via the Ottawa Sun. “I think as we move forward, we’re going to start spending more money. Are we going to be a team that spends [$82.5] million next season? No.”
Now, they are also open to trading their first-round pick.
NHL Rumors: Senators open to trading their first-round pick
The Senators will be selecting 7th overall in the NHL Draft in Montreal on July 7th. According to GM Pierre Dorion, there’s been no shortage of interest.
“Teams have called and inquired about [the pick]” Dorion told Postmedia on Monday.
Of course, the Sens aren’t set on dealing the pick unless they get the right deal.
“If you’re going to trade a future piece you’ve got to make sure that player can help help our team get to the next level,” he added. “We’re going to weigh everything.”
This also doesn’t have to be a draft day deal if the Sens can get what they want in the form of an asset or a player now. However, one has to believe if they’re serious about winning next season it must be for a young player that can have an immediate impact.
Could Alex DeBrincat with the Chicago Blackhawks be that player? Talk of the 24 year-old, who posted 41 goals twice in his young career being traded continue. Although it will certainly take a lot more than the 7th overall pick in the 2022 Draft to make it happen.
NHL Rumors: John Gibson open to a trade?
Gibson, 28, has been excellent for Ducks over his career. His record last season was 18-26-11, with a GAA of 3.19 and a SV% of .904. In his 9 NHL seasons, all with Anaheim, he’s 166-148-51 and has an excellent .915 SV% to go with a 2.67 GAA.
According to The Fourth Period , sources said that teams were interested in Gibson at the deadline. That certainly got the rumor mill to churn.
Nick Alberga added on Monday that Gibson told the Ducks he is open to a trade. The Fourth Period confirmed that report.
Gibson has 5 seasons remaining on his contract with an AAV of $6.4 Million. He also has a 10 team no-trade list.
There are three or four teams that I could see being in on him if he’s traded. Keep your eyes on the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Of course, it may never get that far because John Gibson’s agent said the report by Alberga was false.