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Ottawa Senators Demonstrate Their Economic Conservatism

By Ian Smith

Mar 13, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) and right wing Jesper Fast (19) celebrate after goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) and right wing Jesper Fast (19) celebrate after goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ottawa Senators have sent out a symbolic memo to the rest of the league that they are among the most economically conservative squads in hockey.

That can either be a refreshing trait, or a stagnating one. The avoidance of costly mistakes is great, but not if a team becomes so penny pinching that they refuse to make the moves that lead to improvement.

Their recent trade of Mika Zibanejad for Derick Brassard is evidence of this trait. Brassard has a set rate for how much he will get paid for the next few seasons, which is low relative to the production he brings.

His contract was front loaded, meaning that the Rangers will end up paying way more to him than the Senators over the course of the contract. For the next 3 seasons, the Senators will owe Brassard about $10 million.

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Zibanejad is about to hit restricted free agency, and is due for a huge raise from the $3.25 million he’ll play for next season.

For the time being, the Senators got a cheaper, more productive player. Where this gets complicated, though, is projecting where Zibanejad will be in a couple seasons.

He still has the potential to become a star in this league, and that’s a gamble that the Rangers were apparently more confident to make than the Senators.

If the Senators didn’t think they could afford to hand out long term deals to Zibanejad as well as Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci, then that’s understandable. However, there’s absolutely no excuse to not sign Hoffman and Ceci long term after this trade.

They’re increasing their financial flexibility, but what good is flexibility if it doesn’t get put into use by signing talented players?

Short term, the Senators won this trade, especially if they proceed to give Hoffman and Ceci the long term deals they’re both seeking this offseason.

A snapshot of both Brassard and Zibanejad right now reveals Brassard to be the superior player, and it’s a bonus that he’s about to become the cheaper alternative starting next offseason.

Next: Ottawa Senators Trade Mika Zibanejad for Derick Brassard

We’ll re-examine this trade in a couple years, though. If Zibanejad start playing like a star for the Rangers, then it’ll be a loss for the Senators, who let yet another great player slip away.

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