The Ottawa Senators are still in the market for an upgrade at forward. The William Eklund trade added a lot of skill and upside, while the subsequent Andre Burakovsky trade left more than a few people scratching their heads. Collectively, the two players bring 86 points and 26 goals, with Eklund doing more of the heavy lifting in that regard.
Burakovsky's fit is a bit confusing as well, but General Manager Steve Staios has a vision, and his team, particularly from an analytical standpoint, believes he has a strong case for a bounce-back season. With that said, the Senators are still on the hunt to add a quality player to their top six if the opportunity presents itself.
Bourque would be an ideal addition
With free agency right around the corner, there are players available who could help the team, but many don't fit as long-term additions. However, if the Senators were to pursue an offer sheet, the Dallas Stars have the perfect target in Mavrik Bourque. Bourque had a breakout season with 20 goals and 41 points for the Stars. He plays the style of game the Senators covet, combining physicality and high energy with strong skating and puck skills.
The 24-year-old is just beginning to scratch the surface of his offensive potential, but his all-around game is starting to come together. It's also worth pointing to the Dallas Stars' difficulty in signing star forward Jason Robertson to what is expected to be a massive contract extension. The Stars are simply running out of cap space. If they acquire roster players in return for Robertson, that will further eat into their limited financial flexibility. Even if the Stars and Robertson reach an agreement, Dallas will still need to shed salary.
Bourque's next contract likely won't be overly expensive because he's only beginning to establish himself as an offensive producer. However, an offer sheet would need to be structured at a number the Stars would be unable to match or comfortably fit under the salary cap. If the Senators offered Bourque a three-year deal worth $4.775 million annually, the compensation to Dallas would be a second-round pick. With the Senators hoping to take a step forward this season, that pick could very well fall in the early 50s. The upside is there with Bourque, and adding a young forward who fits the age range of the team's core is exactly the type of move the Senators should be looking to make.
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