The Ottawa Senators have had a busy offseason thus far shoring up their off-ice staff. However, it is time for the shift to be made to the on-ice product. Cue the trade rumours, this time for their speedy winger, Mathieu Joseph. From the Senators perspective, this deal really comes down to dollars and cents.
Rumours Are Floating around That the Sens Want to Trade Mathieu Joseph
One of the main causes of trade rumours involving Mathieu Joseph is the fact that he makes $2.95M. That is for this year coming and the following year. Therefore, with the Sens, a team that has felt the cap crunch over the past while, they could really use some savings. One of them would be in dealing Joseph.
The Host of Upsides to Joseph’s Game
If you think about what Joseph brought to the Senators, there are arguments both ways. Let’s start with the good. He’s a speedy winger, and it is thought that the Sens forward group lacks speed. Yes, Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris can turn on the afterburners, but outside of that, no one really jumps off that page. With the speed of today’s game, that would be an invaluable asset Joseph possesses. Also, for Joseph has been the production. When he first arrived in Ottawa, at the end of the 2021-22 season, he put up 12 points in 11 games. In 2023-24, he did rekindle some of that touch, playing with Stutzle and Claude Giroux. He ended up with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points on the season. He also jumped up to 16:28 of ice time. Was it enough to boost his trade stock? Well, that’s to be determined.
With the Good, Comes the Not-So-Good
One reason we can’t say for certain if it’ll bump his trade stock in potential rumours, is some of the drawbacks to Mathieu Joseph. First of all, there was his horrendous 2022-23 season, which saw him score no even-strength goals in 56 games played. In addition, he only played 14:01 of ice time. Furthermore, when you look at the whole package, the six-year NHLer, only carries a 0.38 PPG average. You’d also have to think, a more talented winger, playing with the likes of Stutzle and Giroux would’ve put up much more than 35 points. At the end of the day, arguments could be made both ways, whether to keep Joseph or not for General Manager Steve Staios and his staff.
In many ways, trading Joseph seems to fit for the Ottawa Senators. This would allow them to go out and make a bigger splash in this year’s free agent pool than they otherwise would be able to do. But just what can the Senators reasonably expect to receive for Mathieu Joseph amidst these trade rumours?
Whatever Will the Sens Do
That kind of spells out the difficulty for the Senators. If they feel he is not a valuable asset, it might be tricky to convince their trading partner otherwise. Conversely, the Sens would find the value in simply moving his contract to create the cap space. Teams like the Utah Hockey Club or the Chicago Blackhawks, who need to spend, might be the type of partner that meshes. It is hard to imagine the return for Joseph is the type of player that tangibly improves the roster. Another angle could be acquiring a prospect or pick, to bolster the club’s stock. Therefore, utilizing in a trade package for a bigger piece like a Linus Ullmark or a Colton Parayko.
Another name that could still become a possibility is Chris Tanev. Staios and staff did push for his services at the trade deadline, but now free agency becomes an option. Having Joseph’s salary gone, just gives the club more potential flexibility in the free agent market.
Main photo credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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