Following an afternoon of confusion, the dominoes have finally started to fall in Ottawa.
As has been rumoured for the last couple weeks, Derick Brassard is on his way to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The deal ends up being a whole lot more complicated than originally thought with a third team, the Vegas Golden Knights, playing a part in the final transaction.
On Ottawa’s side they end up with a 2018 1st round pick and a 2019 3rd round pick (both from the Penguins) top goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson and pending UFA defenceman Ian Cole. The Senators will try to flip Ian Cole before Monday’s deadline.
#Sens GM Pierre Dorion on acquiring Filip Gustavsson and Ian Cole along with a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 third-round pick.
TRADE RECAP: https://t.co/ImRQNUySo8 pic.twitter.com/XQPMk8CtLr
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 24, 2018
The Senators then send Derick Brassard, Vincent Dunn and their own 3rd round pick in 2018 to the Penguins. In a wildly complex transaction, Vegas actually ends up retaining 40% of Brassard’s salary while also picking up Ryan Reaves and a 4th round pick.
Got it? Good, me either.
By having another team retain salary, the Senators give themselves some more options in the next couple days.
With what might still be on the horizon, not retaining any of Brassard’s salary is worth noting (Vegas is on the hook for 40%). Teams are only allowed to retain the salaries of 3 players in any given season. The Sens have already done it once (Phaneuf).
— Steve Lloyd (@TSNSteveLloyd) February 24, 2018
Gustavsson is 19 years old and was a second round pick in the 2016 Entry Draft. He has played in Sweden for the last four years and was recently named top goalie at the World Junior tournament. He is considered a high-end prospect.
Brassard has another year on his deal at a cap hit of $5 million although his actual salary is only $3.5 million.
This is just the beginning of what is expected to be a busy few days for the Ottawa Senators.
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