Ottawa Senators Open for Business

The Ottawa Senators were supposed to be a much better team with a slew of new players on their roster this season but that hasn't been the case at all. The Senators sit with a 2-12-1 record and look destined for the #1 overall pick in a year where you can't really draft any players. While there's already been rumors Derek Stepan may be moved closer to his home, a number of other players have been named as likely to be traded.

According to Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet, he sees the Senators interested in dealing Alex Galchenyuk, Artem Anisimov, Erik Gudbranson, Braydon Coburn, Mike Reilly, Matthew Peca, Michael Haley, and Cedric Paquette.

All who are unrestricted free agents and making less than $3.3 million, the Senators are looking to flip these rentals into assets moving forward.

There's been several reports the Senators have received inquiries on Paquette and he could be headed to Pittsburgh.

Penguins Will Target Toughness With Next Trade https://t.co/Ti0MfpS6Dg

— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 11, 2021

As for Stepan, he had this to say about being away from home:

I'd be lying to you to say it hasn’t been on my mind. Obviously my family is in Scottsdale and my wife, who has been an absolute rock star, is grinding away with a newborn and two other ones. It certainly has been in my head, but at the same time, this is the job, this is the situation we’re in. I’m doing the best I can to stay focused in on Ottawa Senators hockey and that’s really all I can control right now is... helping this group the way I want to and planned to when I first got traded here.

Won't be long before Stepan will be closer to home and the Senators fire sale will begin.

Photo credit:  Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire