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Reviewing the Major Trades of the Ottawa Senators Rebuild

By Daniel Bruce

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 17: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators rests during a stoppage in play in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 17, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Ottawa 2-1. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Erik Karlsson
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 17: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators rests during a stoppage in play in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 17, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Ottawa 2-1. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Erik Karlsson /
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OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 9: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators reacts as he celebrates his first period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadian Tire Centre on February 9, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 9: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators reacts as he celebrates his first period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadian Tire Centre on February 9, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Ottawa has made some significant moves since the last half of 2018

Coming off of an Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2016-17, hopes were high in Ottawa and  when they traded for Matt Duchene in November of 2017, it was clear they were chasing the cup.

Ottawa now had a nucleus which consisted of Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene and Mark Stone who were all elite players at the time, and Karlsson was widely regarded as the best defenceman in the game. All signs were pointing towards a cup contender but… the season would take an unexpected turn.

Karlsson would miss the first five games of the season while still recovering from the torn ligaments he suffered from the playoff run the year prior, while Ottawa started the season a solid 3-0-2 without him. Karlsson would return and go on an absolute tear up until after the Senators trip to Sweden to play the Colorado Avalanche.

Karlsson was phenomenal, with 1 goal and 16 assists in just his first 11 games and with Ottawa playing well everything seemed status quo, with the team 8-3-5. Then the Matt Duchene trade would happen, and everything would change. In a three-team trade between Ottawa, Colorado and Nashville that shocked the hockey world:

In a ridiculous haul for Colorado, they would be set up for future success, as Ottawa would grow to regret the deal.

After the trade Ottawa would go 20-40-6 and at this seasons trade deadline, the Senators would start a rebuild nearly four months after they were thinking about contending for a Stanley Cup.

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