The NHL is currently in the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament. When the NHL is ready to return to play on Feb. 22, one team will be in need of making moves at the trade deadline to help their team. That one team is the Ottawa Senators.
Some have been impressed by the Senators' season as they sit with a 29-23-4 record in the Eastern Conference, but the Senators headed into the 4 Nations Face-Off break cold by losing three consecutive games in Florida.
With where the Senators are at, they are too deep into the season to not make a move or two with being the first Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference. If the Senators want to be a stronger team, they have three players on the roster on expiring contracts that they must look into moving.
3 Senators on expiring contracts the team needs to get rid of
Making trades at the trade deadline can without a doubt make-or-break a season for a team contending in a playoff spot. When trading players on expiring contracts, getting the right value from a team is important.
3. Anton Forsberg
This season has been a roller coaster for 32-year-old Anton Forsberg. From starting the season off getting pulled in his first start, to then recording two shutouts in a five-game span.
Forsberg's next eight starts after his second shutout of the season in November were brutal. Forsberg allowed in at least three goals in each of the next eight starts. Then, a hot five-game stretch happened when Forsberg went 4-1-0 in the five games. In four of the five starts, Forsberg allowed in two goals or less. After the hot stretch, Forsberg's last start before the 4 Nations Face-Off went rough when he allowed in four goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 6.
Forsberg is an unrestricted free agent after this season with a salary of $2.75 million. With the inconsistency happening throughout the season, Leevi Merilainen would be a better backup choice for Linus Ullmark. Merilainen has an 8-3-1 record with a 1.99 goals against average and .925 save percentage this season to Forsberg's 8-10-1 record with a 2.89 goals against average and .893 save percentage.
Solid goaltending is needed for a team to have toward a playoff push. Forsberg's inconsistency has had issues this season that the Senators can't wait to fix. Forsberg could be a target for a team that is in need of a goaltender. Teams even in the bottom of the standings could also be interested in seeing if Forsberg could succeed with a fresh start with a new team.
2. Noah Gregor
Entering this season at 26 years old, Noah Gregor was in need of having a fresh start. Gregor's fresh start started off decent, but then it got ugly. After going pointless in the first four games he played, Gregor then recorded two goals in a five-game span.
After October, Gregor only recorded one assist for the entire month of November and wouldn't score a goal until mid-December. In January, Gregor suffered a lower-body injury and has been out of the lineup since Jan. 9's game.
Earlier this month, the Senators placed Gregor on long-term injured reserve. For a player that's on an expiring restricted contract at $850,000, Gregor hasn't produce much offense this season for a bottom-nine forward. In 35 games, Gregor has recorded six points. Gregor's -10 rating is the fourth lowest on the Senators roster.
With a cheap contract, Gregor could be movable, but being on LTIR could hurt the Senators if they want to trade him. Gregor hasn't been able to fit quite well in his first season with the Senators.
1. Travis Hamonic
On the defensive end, 34-year-old Travis Hamonic has been a big liability for the Senators. Along with only having three assists this season, Hamonic's -11 rating is the third lowest on the Senators roster.
Hamonic has played out of position defensively that has caused teams to create and capitalize on scoring chances. The Senators can have the issue of Hamonic's no-move clause if they want to trade him. The Senators would need Hamonic's approval to be traded, waived or sent to the minors.
A way the Senators could move Hamonic is to trade him to a team that is already in deep playoff contention. Hamonic will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and his salary for this season is $1.1 million. Despite the Senators being in a playoff spot with 62 points, the team isn't a lock to make the playoffs like other teams. There are teams that are more ahead of the Senators in the standings that could be interested in adding a veteran defenseman for depth like Hamonic.
The Senators can better their roster for their playoff push by moving on from players with expiring contracts. Forsberg, Gregor and Hamonic each being on an expiring contract could make them trade worthy for the Senators.
The trade deadline is on March 7. Other teams have already made a bold trade to better their team, but the Senators haven't made a trade before the deadline to better their team.