Branny for a 2nd makes no sense. They'll either keep him, trade him for a prospect with similar upside (probably a forward?), Or in a package for a much more immediate impact player. Brannstrom is, at very worst a 22 year old who is completely capable of playing 3rd pair and 2nd Power Play at the NHL level. At his peak upside, he's a 2nd pair offensive Dman who can QB a 1st PP unit and give 40-50 points. His value, even if you're super low on his upside, is higher than a 2nd.

EDIT: I like Josh Anderson probably more than most. At his very best he's a Brady Tkachuk type who can skate at a high level. The problem is that he's not at his best often enough to be worth his contract, and when he's not at his best, he's closer to a 2-3mil guy in your bottom six than he is to a guy you want locked up at 5.5mil until 2027. I think if he was a consistent threat he'd basically be the ideal RW for Tim Stützle, but I just don't think he's that guy. Also as a separate point, I think at this point I think the separation between him and Drake Batherson is drastic enough to warrant recognition. Batherson is top 9 (tied) in the entire league in points.

MTL
Brännström, Erik
OTT
2023 2nd round pick (MTL)

MTL
2022 2nd round pick (TBL)
2022 3rd round pick (BOS)
2022 6th round pick (OTT)
OTT
Anderson, Josh
Wideman, Chris
Additional Details:
puts Anderson as their best right winger, maybe behind Batherson, gives them scoring and toughness


Brannstrom deal isn't happening.

Before Josh Anderson was a Hab, he had 115 points in 267 games, or a 0.43 PPG. Since becoming a Hab, he has 30 points in 68 games, or a 0.44 PPG.

The last two seasons
24 26 50 Batherson (23 years old) ($5MM)
20 23 43 Tkachuk (22 years old) ($8.3MM)
23 19 42 Brown (27 years old) ($3.6MM)
13 22 35 Stützle (19 years old) (ELC)
20 10 30 Anderson (27 years old) ($5.5MM)

Anderson isn't a top6 forward for Ottawa, and at a $5.5MM contract, he needs to be. I like Anderson, just not at $5.5MM.

What about Tuch or Ylonen for Brannstrom straight up? Both have top 6 upside but are more likely to top out at middle 6. Ylonen is an Armia type of player while Tuch compares well to his brother.

It wouldn't be straight up, it would be added to the 2nd

However, just continue to wait and Brannstrom's value will continue to depreciate. Dorion is probably the worst asset manager in the league.

Start of next season will be the best time to get him for cheap. A 2nd could be enough then

I don't agree that Luke Tuch compares well to his brother at all. Alex Tuch was a beast in college, and his brother really hasn't done much at all. He's still a teenager, so he's obviously got plenty of time to figure himself out, but don't think he'd be nearly as hyped as a prospect if he didn't share his brother's last name. I think it's more of an Alex Nylander situation than Brady Tkachuk situation.

Ylonen is certainly more interesting. He's a nice prospect and he seems to be developing nicely, but again, I think Ottawa is giving up so much more value immediately, and they give up a lot more in terms of upside. Ylonen is probably gonna be a solid NHL player, but I don't see him as more than a 3rd liner tbh.

I only meant that Luke is a power forward with top 6 potential and his play style was similar to Alex if he hits his ceiling.

Idk maybe I'm missing something but I really don't see top 6 upside at all. Again, he's still a teenager, he's got plenty of time to develop into that, but it's not there now imo

luke is like his brother with less offensive upside

i can see anderson playing on the top line with Brady and norris and has elite level skating, I agree with everything you are saying.
What if we tooK zaitzev?
Or instead of Anderson traded you Petry but then i think the add would need to come back from ottawa

The problem with Josh Anderson is that he's a player who is less than the sum of all of his skills. He can be a dangerous scorer at times, and a power forward with speed, but I think the problem is between the ears. He's got the physical skillset to be one of the best wingers in the league, but the reason he's never been able to put it together is that he just doesn't process the game well enough. He's fast but I don't think his hands can keep up with his speed, and he's a pretty sub par playmaker, which severely limits his ability to be an consistently dangerous offensive threat. It's why I didn't want the Sens to trade for him in Columbus, and why I'm happy not to have his contract on the team.

Petry, I straight up would not take. At nearly 34, he doesn't really line up with the Sens long term competitive window, and I'm just not convinced that he's a guy who will age well into his late 30s. I don't like that contract at all.

thanks for the discussion you make very compelling points

What would be the deal then? Anderson for Zaitsev and 2nd?

I'd also be curious to watch Zaitsev away from DJ Smith. This coach loves him too much for some reason and always overplays him, giving him too much responsibility. Maybe he'd do relatively well in a reduced 3rd pairing role. So might be overpaid (like Anderson) but could bring quality to your 3rd pair.

it would have been be zaitzev and branstrom for a 2nd but i think we moved on form the idea). The goal wasnt to dump anderson as he still has value but Zaitzev brings branstroms value down. Listening to the media in ottawa and the fans this guy is the plague. (live in ottawa, mtl fan) Zaitzev either gets burried in the mionors or if we unload the 3 heavy shutdown guys in Chairot, edmonston, savard, and to an extend kulak zaitzev coul play bot pair if we cant flip him and dont have the personell to bury him and need the body (like you guys right now)

I think the other otion of Ylonen and a 2nd for branstrom was more realistic

Both options are viable to me

1) if the Sens were going to use that cap space by trading Zaitsev, I would do Zaitsev and Brannstrom for a 2nd, but they won't so moot point

2) I wold be interested in Ylonen + 2nd for Brannstrom but Dorion is going to wait until forever until his asset depreciate at the maximum... so it won't happen

i agree, I dont know if dorion is handcuffed by Melnyk or he isn't able to pull the trigger because he can't seem to dis-associate bramstrom with the failure he had with waiting too long and then not being able to sign Stone and hold out hope he will win or break even in that trade after his coments on how happy he was when he traded for branstrom