Ottawa Senators Shopping Derek Stepan

The Ottawa Senators are having a disappointing season as the team tried really hard to overhaul their roster in the offseason and it just hasn't worked out for anyone. This includes forward Derek Stepan who the team acquired from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2nd-round pick.

Turns out there's more to the story as Stepan has a young family and decided he was going to leave his family behind, and make the trip to Ottawa solo, and it's been wearing on everyone involved.

To the point of Ottawa shopping him back closer to home.

Stepan's the most expensive forward on the Sens roster, making $6.5 million this season and is heading for unrestricted free-agency this upcoming offseason. There's zero chance he re-signs in Ottawa so they mid as well get something back for him, after surprisingly giving up a 2nd rounder in the deal.

It will be hard to find suitors as Stepan only has one goal and four points in 11 games.

The Senators are going to have to retain money to make a deal work and one team to look out for is the Anaheim Ducks who are trying to upgrade their center position.

So the Senators gave up a 2nd rounder, are getting no production out of him, and now are going to have to retain salary to trade Stepan for something worse than a 2nd round pick.

Tough times in Ottawa.

Photo credit: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire

So, if Derek Stepan would like to be traded to be closer to his family, why take Logan Brown’s number? Seems moot.
— Steve Lloyd (@TSNSteveLloyd) February 7, 2021