NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators & Nashville Predators Talking Trade

The Ottawa Senators' blueline is about to balloon to eight healthy bodies, and a trade is likely incoming.

As noted by insider Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun, Jacob Bernard-Docker, who has been out since December 28th with a high ankle sprain, is just about to make his return after missing the last 20 games.

Bernard-Docker was a full participant in the club’s skills contest, says Garrioch, and is just about ready to come off LTIR.

Two league executives told Postmedia that the 24-year-old Bernard-Docker, a first-round pick in 2018, is available, and the Senators are looking for a prospect in exchange.

Garrioch then goes on to name the Nashville Predators as a team that has interest in the 26th overall pick in that 2018 Draft.

With Bernard-Docker’s $805,000 salary about to eat back into the Sens' salary cap, which currently sits at only $1.6 million at the deadline, it would restrict their ability to bring in one of the rumored forward targets they have their eyes on, either the Chicago Blackhawks' Ryan Donato or the Seattle Kraken's Brandon Tanev.

The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker becomes a restricted free agent at season’s end.

The Predators are looking to add youth to their lineup, focused on the future. The Senators’ defenseman showed promise in his first full season last year, playing 72 games and blocking 156 shots in an average of 15:42 ice time per night.

“He might be able to help a team that’s retooling and looking for something a little different,” a league executive told Garrioch.