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Ottawa Senators should trade high on Jean-Gabriel Pageau

By James Reeve

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Ottawa Senators Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) keeps eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators on November 7, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Ottawa Senators Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) keeps eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators on November 7, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Ottawa Senators have done a great job stockpiling assets ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft but it appears they have the opportunity to do even more.

The early performances of the Ottawa Senators has them sitting firmly towards the bottom of the NHL, a position the organisation will secretly be hoping to be by season’s end in order to have the very best chance of landing the first-overall pick.

With the Sens already holding on to their own first-round pick as well as San Jose’s, which is also not protected against the lottery, there could be a serious opportunity for the organisation to land some top prospects that can help forge a positive future ahead.

Now, just 15 games into the 2019/20 season, there appears to be interested growing in one of the Senators’ impending free agents that could see them add even more assets ahead of what is shaping up to be a truly strong draft.

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According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the Ottawa Senators could potentially receive a first-round pick AND a prospect in exchange for forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who has started the season in the form of his life.

The 26-year-old Ottawa native currently leads the team with seven goals and is second in total points with 11 in his 15 regular-season appearances to date.

This impressive start comes off the back of Pageau posting a career-high 18.9% shooting average, a stunning 14.1% jump from last season and 4.6% higher than his previous record in both his nine-game rookie season (2012/13) and 2015/16.

With the Senators building one of the strongest prospect pools in the entire league, it would make sense that the organisation would consider offloading some of the veteran guys currently on their books, especially those with expiring contracts.

Pageau’s $3.1 million-a-year deal is up after this season and the centreman is an impending unrestricted free agent, meaning the Senators would have very little in the way of bargaining power if they allow him to reach July 1st without a new deal.

There hasn’t been much in the way of contract discussions between the two parties, so a trade could be in the cards either at or before the trade deadline, with contending teams eager to have cheaper options that can produce in front of the net ahead of their playoff campaign.

For the Ottawa Senators, acquiring a late first-round pick as well as a prospect would make plenty of sense ahead of the 2020 Draft.

With the expectations of success very low, having extra picks in the draft fits in nicely with the long-term approach that is being followed.

Having potentially two lottery picks and a third pick later in the first round would put the Senators in the perfect position to build the team they envision and get back to the ways of the early-to-mid 2000s.

Next. Three Sens that need to be better. dark

What do you think Sens fans? Would you be happy seeing the team acquire a first-round pick and possibly a prospect in exchange for Pageau? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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