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By Dylan Starnes – @stormsurge_pod / stormsurgepod.com
June 12, 2024
The Carolina Hurricanes may have a mutually beneficial trade partner in the Ottawa Senators. Let’s dive in and look at why this could work.
Let’s start with an area that has been a constant need in Ottawa, goaltending. Over the past 5 seasons, the Senators have consistently struggled in net. This past season, they finished dead last in the NHL in save percentage.
| Season | GAA | NHL Rank | Save % | NHL Rank |
| 2019-20 | 3.35 | 30th | .900 | 22nd |
| 2020-21 | 3.38 | 28th | .898 | 28th |
| 2021-22 | 3.22 | 22nd | .909 | 15th |
| 2022-23 | 3.29 | 20th | .900 | 20th |
| 2023-24 | 3.43 | 26th | .888 | 32nd |
As you can see from the table above the Senators have continuously been at the bottom of the NHL in the goaltending department. Since the 2019-2020 season, the starting goalie has changed every year. Having consistency in net could go a long way for a young and highly skilled team with the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Josh Norris, and Jake Sanderson to name a few. With a stronger performance in the crease, I think this Ottawa team is poised to push themselves into the playoffs. Paired with reports that general manager, Steve Staios, is intent on upgrading the club’s situation between the pipes, we may have a trade partner for the Canes.
Frederik Andersen could be just the guy Ottawa desperately needs. Over the course of his career, Andersen has played in 495 regular season games compiling a 2.56 GAA and a very strong .916 SV% and winning a total of 295 contests. The 34-year-old has also competed in 72 playoff games, with 38 wins, a 2.46 GAA, and a .914 SV%. Say what you will about Andersen, but when he is healthy he is among the best goalies in the league. I think it is safe to say Freddie would be an immediate upgrade for the Sens.
Why Should the Canes Trade Freddie?
Trading Andersen could make sense for a couple reasons. The biggest reason is Pyotr Kochetkov. Since being drafted by the Canes in the 2nd round in 2019, Kochetkov has shown incredible potential and is ready to take over as the true number one in Raleigh. In his third rookie season Kochetkov played in 42 games putting up a very respectable 2.33 GAA and .911 SV% on his way to 23 wins. The more Kochetkov plays the better he looks. In the coming season I think Kochetkov will and should play a vast majority of the games.
The top goalie for the last 10 Stanley Cup winners averaged 56 starts, or 68% of the regular season games. The Canes, on the other hand, have been rolling with a 1A/1B goalie rotation over the last several years. I think Kochetkov can take the reins and be a true number one for the Hurricanes and I think it would be beneficial to him and the team.
While Andersen’s current cap hit is a manageable $3.4 million, there are cheaper options for goalies suited for a backup role. I look at someone like Anthony Stolarz who played 27 games this season in Florida as a solid fit. Stolarz is projected to earn a 2-year contract for around $2.2 million.
So What’s in it for Us?
The Senators have several enticing pieces to build a trade around. There are some players rumored to be available, but nothing concrete. While I’m not positive what the return could look like, for the sake of this article let’s speculate recklessly.
There are reports that Ottawa is shopping forward Mathieu Joseph. Joseph would be a great fit for the Canes in a third line role and has potential to chip in on special teams. He is coming off a 35-point season and still has plenty of room to grow. If Joseph were the center piece of the return, Ottawa would need to sweeten the deal a bit with a mid-round pick or prospect, but I think something could be worked out and benefit both teams.
For a bigger return, you could put together a blockbuster trade package involving Martin Necas + Frederik Andersen. Now the return could include guys like Shane Pinto or Jakob Chychrun and other pieces coming back.
While it is fun to speculate, I really do think this trade scenario benefits both teams. Please share your thoughts in the comments below and share what you think would be a fair trade.
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