If I'm Colorado, I just bite the bullet on losing one or the other.

Pettersson is an option, but I'm not sure Pittsburgh will have any intention of selling, since they're in that weird middle ground of being not quite good enough, but won't move Letang, Crosby or Malkin either.

Idk from a Colorado perspective, they probably want to move on from Compher anyway for Cap reasons, but they'd almost certainly get more from a Graves trade than for Compher. Probably makes more sense to trade Graves and lose Compher to Seattle.

I don't think that trade will be the best way for Ottawa to address their need, but those are a couple of options that could work. I free agency will be the route they would go though.

I think Petterson would be a decent player for Ottawa.

However, at the same time, if you give him a spot on the roster, that means you're taking away a roster spot from someone else.

There are 3 spots at LD on a hockey team and if Petterson gets one of those spots, that means there are just 2 spots left for players that can fill that role.

In the very near future, we'll have, at the very least, Chabot, Brannstrom, Sanderson and JBD in need of a spot on the team.

Also, if Petterson regresses, then the term on his contract could be difficult to get rid of.

So, although I might agree with you that Petterson has some value, I don't think he has a place on the Sens.

graves for tierney would work.

Oleksiak would be my vote. Bringing that size to this team makes an already big roster even bigger, and he's also legitimately good at the same time. Otherwise, Ryan Murray is probably the best of the bunch when healthy and the most realistic option of the free agency bunch. I'd argue most, if not all of these guys, would be 2LD especially since Brännström hasn't been remarkably impressive and his defensive game needs a lot of work before he's ready for second pairing minutes.

Also, seems many signs point towards Sanderson joining the Sens at the end of this year or starting next. The sense around UND is that he's gone once the Frozen Four is done. The coach likes to think he'll have him back, but that doesn't say anything about what Pierre or Jake want nor does it say what's best for him. He's probably just as ready (if not more) for NHL time as JBD is.

Exactly. I really like the player, but the contract doesn't make sense. That's why I think a UFA option makes more sense. I think a two year deal makes sense for Ottawa. Someone who can play a significant defensive role next year, then take a back seat in the 2nd year when Sanderson is in the lineup. Or possibly be traded after one year.

My preference would be Ian Cole or Ryan Murray. Both are strong defensive players, who would provide experience to the whole blueline, and would be smart mentors for JBD in particular who will be asked to fill a similar role in his career.

The way I would see it breaking down would be something like this.
Chabot playing his 24-26 min in all situations, Zub and Zaitsev playing around 19-20 min with PK usage, Brannstrom playing 17-19 min in a offensive PP role, UFA LD playing 16-18 minutes in a defensive role plus heavy PK deployment, and JBD playing 14-16 min mostly 5v5. Then J.Brown/Gudbranson as the 7th D.

I said 3rd pair because I see this LD playing with Bernard-Docker at even strength, but realistically he will play similar or slightly more than Brannstrom. Whoever it is will see heavy deployment as a top PK unit guy and in late game protecting lead situations. In games where they draw a lot of penalties, or are chasing a lead late Brannstrom might play more but overall they will be similar imo.

As far as Sanderson goes, there's definitely the option is there for him to be a one and done, but I think he still has another gear to find as an offensive Dman, and I think he would be better served staying in Grand Forks, and getting those big minutes. I also question whether Ottawa would be that willing to go that young right away on the Blueline. I think Sanderson-JBD would be perfectly fine in a 3rd pair role together, but sending Jake back a year, and adding an experienced guy short term, gives Brannstrom, Zub and JBD that extra year of experience ahead of Sanderson arriving which will help the team overall imo.

If OTT has faith in it's prospects it shouldn't bother with Pettersson, who will cost you an arm and a leg as the penguins aren't going to trade a young starting 2LD for nothing.

I agree its not a great fit.

Tierney is the only guy the Avs would likely have interest in to address the #3C issues.