Does not really solve the Pinto situation unless Pinto lowers his asking price which has been at 2.5. If MacEwen clears that will allow for a D man from Bellville to move up to fill the slot vacated by Brannstrom. I would say the majority of Sens fans want Brannstrom to stick around for this season.
20-21 man rosters are risky , it’s going to bite them in the ass in the second half of the season once players start wearing down.

I think Kubalik is the better trade option. For around that price as well.

The thing is, trading Brannstrom doesn't even give Ottawa room for Pinto. It clears like 1.2mil max, less if they want to call up Kleven instead of Larsson/Heatherington. That isn't Pinto money. Also with Zub leaving the game with an injury, trading Brannstrom makes even less sense

It's a workable solution that leaves ~$350k of capspace with a 20 man roster, assuming Pinto takes $2.5m.

If Pinto is flexible and takes slightly less, like $2.1m, you could probably squeeze a 21 man roster too.

Obviously a 20-21 man roster isn't ideal, but that's the unfortunate reality for Ottawa.

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4650384

I showed here that it actually does work for Ottawa: https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4650384

1. Taxi squads aren't a thing anymore in the NHL.


2. When you add either Kastelic and MacEwen to the roster, you're over the cap.


3. Kastelic is our #4 centre and if you try sending him to the minors, he'll get claimed off waivers.

Taxi squads don't exist anymore in the NHL.

I know that taxi squads don't exist. I just put them there to illustrate that they're not on the roster.

Ottawa doesn't want to lose Kastelic to waivers though.

Waive someone else though. The risk is pretty low that anyone picks guys on waivers. Plenty of good players cleared last week, like Wade Allison and Coghlan.

Exactly because someone need to take Brannstrom and will cost 0.775 AAV at the very least. And frankly, as long as Kleven is not ready to make an impact, we have no one nearly as good as Brannstrom outside of the Top-4

Moving Kubalik is the no brainer because you clear 2.5 (instead of 2.0) but Pinto would be replacing his spot so you cleared the whole 2.5 instead of 1.225 for Brannstrom being moved.

When you look at the other up and coming teams in the east , NJ 23 man roster 1.75 cap space ; Detroit 23 man roster 4.47 cap space ; Buffalo 23 man 8.826 cap they have done a much better job IMO. Don’t get me wrong I like Ottawa’s team but they have no wiggle room to bring players up. It can’t send a good message to the guys in Belleville.

just because it technically could work in the worst possible way doesn't mean they should do it lmao

Larsson as the full time 6D isn't a real option. Not worth it just to keep Kubalik for a season