The NHL trade deadline is less than one month away and one Ottawa Senators player that could attract interest is veteran defenceman Ron Hainsey.
The Ottawa Senators are more than likely to be one of the selling clubs when the February 24th deadly rolls around and Ron Hainsey could be a player that could see his (brief) time with the organisation come to an end.
At face value, that may raise a few eyebrows, with many likely believing that a 38-year-old left-handed blueliner may not offer up the most value compared to other options available around the league.
However, Hainsey is a unique player that just continues to perform despite his advanced age.
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For his handedness, Hainsey is actually more often deployed on the right side of the defence and would add great value to a genuine contender that requires depth at one of the trickiest positions to fill.
The 6-foot-3, 205lbs Bolton, Connecticut native has seen virtually everything there is to see in the NHL, even playing a key role for the Pittsburgh Penguins when they lifted the Stanley Cup in 2017, including that fateful series against the Senators.
Interestingly, that 2017 victory was the first time Hainsey had ever experienced playoff hockey, missing out on the post-season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes beforehand.
Now 38, it’s reasonable to believe that Hainsey wouldn’t mind having another shot at the cup and the Senators could help facilitate this for him ahead of the deadline.
His $3.5 million cap hit may be a stumbling block in negotiations, along with his modified No-Trade Clause, eliminating ten teams from any potential negotiations.
However, if the Senators retain up to half his salary, the organisation could receive a decent asset in return, potentially even a 2020 draft pick to add to their collection.
TSN have listed him at #13 on their ‘Trade Bait’ list, with the general feeling being that he could be a serious trade candidate to help support the Senators’ rebuilding process.
D.J. Smith is very familiar with Hainsey, having worked with him over the past couple of years and named him to his official leadership group at the start of the season, handing him an alternate captain’s ‘A’.
It could be that Smith wishes to retain Hainsey for the remainder of the season, though this would simply be to help keep his leadership and mentorship qualities around as the Ottawa Senators have virtually no chance, or real desire, to reach the playoffs this season.
One potential scenario could see Hainsey traded to a contender in February with an agreement between him and the organisation to return in the summer, giving the Sens another year of his leadership during a time when even more of the prospects are expected to make the step up.
It is a storyline that will be worth following over the next month, with Pierre Dorion being tight-lipped on any potential decisions that are being made.
What do you think Sens fans? Should the team try and get an asset for Hainsey now? Should they bring him back in free agency if they really like what he could offer next year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!