Not an Ottawa comment, but that is a fair assessment of what it will take to sign Gagner. He may be the best UFA centre that is available, when you also consider age. Can't knock a 50 point season.

Main knock against this trade from Ottawa's standpoint is Fleury's handedness. Were he a RHD, I think the Sens would bite, but given he shoots left they would probably only pull the trigger in conjunction with a second deal that better fits their needs.

Interesting. I was thinking the opposite honestly. Ceci and karlson (although I know ceci has his moments) seem to have the right side pretty shored up. 3rd pair guys aren't hard to find imo. And I do know chabot is coming up. But you had a future top 4 with chabot karlson fleury ceci. Could be dominant

Ottawa has Claesson (24), Sieloff (23), Harpur (22), Englund (21), Donaghey (21), Chabot (20), and Lajoie (19) as currently signed LHD under the age of 25 (plus Gormley who just turned 25), plus Wolanin (22) and Gendron (21) in the system. Compare that to Ceci (23), Erkamps (22), and Jaros (21) signed, plus Summers (21) as the only RHD in the pipeline. Ottawa is flush with guys pushing for time on the left side, and fairly thin all things considered on the right. If they add a LHD, it's likely to be a vet signed to a relatively short contract (with an outside chance of an established in-prime partner for Karlsson), whereas the right side is where they would be looking to add an on-the-cusp body or two.

And no, I'm not saying that all those LHD are going to pan out - Gormley's likely beyond his last chance at actually getting an NHL job, for example. It's more a comment that, organizationally speaking, they would be looking to add to the right more than the left.

Interesting. Thanks for the input man. Would be very curious to see if Carolina would go after brown. Think there's more of a fit (haven't read anything about it or anything, just in my mind)