Senators Should Target Jets’ McGroarty & Ehlers
The Ottawa Senators are involved in various trade rumors, including potential deals for Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark and discussions with the Philadelphia Flyers. General manager Steve Staios is highly active in the trade market, and one trade he should explore is with the Winnipeg Jets for forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Rutger McGroarty.
McGroarty & Ehlers Likely to Be Traded
According to Elliotte Friedman and supported by Murat Ates of The Athletic, Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty is likely to be traded soon. Ates notes that McGroarty wanted to sign with the Jets after his NCAA season, but the team was focused on the playoffs and didn’t include him in their plans. Frustrated, McGroarty is expected to be traded without signing his entry-level contract (The Athletic, June 22, 2024).
Ehlers, on the other hand, is in the final year of his contract and has been underutilized by the Jets. He isn’t keen on re-signing, making him a likely candidate for a trade. Ottawa could benefit from acquiring Ehlers, as they have a spot open for a speedy, skilled winger. Additionally, the Senators need young players ready to make an impact soon. Their top prospects, Tyler Kleven and Zack Ostapchuk, aren’t enough for a team facing salary cap challenges. They need young, skilled players on entry-level contracts.
What Ottawa Has to Offer
Trading for Ehlers and McGroarty is complex. Ottawa must consider their assets in the context of the rumored trades for Ullmark and with the Flyers.
The rumored price for Ullmark, according to Bruce Garrioch of PostMedia, is Jakob Chychrun, the 25th overall pick, and a prospect. This price seems high, and Staios may not be willing to offer that much. Assuming Chychrun and the 25th pick are off the table, Ottawa’s available assets for the Jets trade need re-evaluation (Ottawa Sun, June 19, 2024).
Details of the Flyers trade are scarce, but it could involve Ottawa’s seventh overall pick in exchange for the 12th pick and additional assets like Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, or a combination of picks and prospects. This trade isn’t as crucial as the Ullmark trade.
If both trades occur, Ottawa could use assets from the Flyers trade, including the 12th overall pick. They also have a second-round pick, Mathieu Joseph, Erik Brannstrom, and lower-end prospects available for trade.
The challenge is that Winnipeg may not be interested in future assets like picks and prospects, which is what Ottawa primarily has to offer. If Staios can persuade Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff that he has the necessary assets, acquiring Ehlers and McGroarty would significantly benefit the Senators.
