Senators have busy trade deadline, bringing in Hamonic, three others, while shipping out three

General manager Pierre Dorion had warned us about a "quiet" trade deadline, but the Ottawa Senators definitely made some noise Sunday and Monday.

By the time the chips had settled, about an hour past the 3 p.m. ET deadline, Ottawa had brought in four players and three draft picks, shipped out three players and two picks, and made a key goaltender signing.

Where to begin? With the new, three-year contract for goalie Anton Forsberg or the trading of Nick Paul to Tampa Bay? Whither Travis Hamonic, the new defenceman? And how about putting the "Sen" in Senyshyn, with the homecoming of Nepean’s Zach Senyshyn? Zach Sanford left for Winnipeg and Michael McNiven, with the final deal of the day, brings some goaltending depth.

On Sunday, Dorion traded the popular and versatile forward, Paul, to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick (in 2024) and forward Mathieu Joseph, whom they hope can be a younger, faster version of Paul to play in the bottom six. As an added feature, Joseph is good friends with Ottawa defenceman Thomas Chabot. The two played junior hockey together with the QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs.

Also on Sunday, the Sens acquired defenceman Travis Hamonic from Vancouver, in exchange for a third-round 2022 draft pick (previously held by Vancouver). The Hamonic move sent Ottawa’s fan base reeling on social media (Dorion’s girlfriend told the GM to stay off Twitter), considering the player appeared in just 24 games this season and was previously available on waivers. But Dorion liked the timing of adding Hamonic’s experience.

By Monday afternoon, Dorion had moved pending UFA defenceman Josh Brown plus a conditional seventh-round pick in 2022 to Boston for Senyshyn. Senyshyn was a first-round pick of the Bruins, and arrives along with a Bruins fifth-round pick in 2022. The seventh-round pick to Boston will become a sixth-round pick if Senyshyn appears in five or more games with Ottawa before the end of the season. Goalie McNiven was added for “futures” from Calgary because of Ottawa’s injuries in goal, and should allow Filip Gustavsson to play AHL playoff games for Belleville.

‘SEN-yshyn’ comes home

Senyshyn, who turns 25 next week, has appeared in just 14 games for the Bruins since being drafted 15th overall in 2015. He has scored 19 goals with AHL Providence this season and the Sens believe he has some upside.

If he does anything with the Senators, Senyshyn represents a nice bonus return for Brown, expected to be moved for a late-round pick and little else.

“He’s a local guy, and I don’t think he’s really had his chance (in the NHL),” Dorion said, adding that if Senyshyn plays well in Belleville, he will get to play in Ottawa, regardless of whether that causes the Sens to give up a sixth-round pick instead of a seventh.

In his penultimate move of the day, Dorion sent forward Sanford to Winnipeg for a fifth-round draft pick in 2022.

Joseph, 25, is a pending restricted free agent and has arbitration rights, which would have been an issue for salary-cap-strapped Tampa, but Ottawa has plenty of room to fit Joseph into their payroll.

The Sens perked up when they heard that Joseph could be available, Dorion said.

“He’s a guy we’ve been looking at for quite a while,” Dorion said. “He’s someone that has great speed. He’s tenacious. I think he’s just scratching the surface.”

On the fact that Chabot and Joseph are pals, Dorion noted that the Brady Tkachuk-Josh Norris friendship has turned out well for Ottawa, so maybe this one will, too.

Dorion: Give Hamonic a chance

Hamonic, 31, a right-shot defenceman, is viewed by Dorion and his staff as a stop-gap measure until right-shot prospects Lassi Thomson and Jacob Bernard-Docker are ready to play full time in Ottawa.

“(Hamonic) is coming here happy to play whatever role he’s going to play,” Dorion said. “He’s a guy that can make a good first pass. I think he’ll stabilize our defence, he’s still a very good skater. He’s not the player he was – and I think Calgary paid a high price to get him from the Islanders. Let’s not fool ourselves. But sometimes we don’t give chances to players – let’s give this guy a chance. He wants to prove how important a player he can be here, and whomever he plays with will be up to D.J. (Smith, head coach).”

Hamonic has one year left on his contract that pays him $3 million in 2022-23. While Dorion said he likes the player, and that all the pro scouts like the player, an important connection is Senators associate coach Jack Capuano, who had Hamonic in Long Island from 2010-17 when Capuano was head coach of the New York Islanders. Hamonic was a second-round pick of the Isles in 2008.

“He comes as advertised,” Capuano said, after the Senators practice on Monday. “He plays hard, with grit, he has that brotherhood mentality – anything he has to do for his teammate, he will do.”

Capuano added that family is important to Hamonic, a father of two, including a daughter who has had health issues. Regarding his game, Capuano cited some sneaky offensive elements but is mostly a solid defender who could make him a good partner for a Chabot or Jake Sanderson on the left side.

“He has some offensive creativity to his game, but he really takes a lot of pride in defending against top lines and he’s a right shot ... at the end of the day, he is a guy who is going to be reliable for the hockey team,” Capuano said. “And I think guys will be able to look up to him in how he takes care of himself off the ice, does charity work and gives back to the community.”

On that score, Capuano described Hamonic as a person of strong character who will be a good mentor for Ottawa’s young defence prospects. Hamonic was put on waivers by the Canucks last October after missing training camp because of his vaccination status. He returned to the organization in November, fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Forsberg extended

Monday morning, the Senators announced that their “backup” goalie wasn’t going anywhere. Forsberg, a pending unrestricted free agent who was placed on waivers multiple times a year ago, deserves credit for earning himself a three-year deal at age 29. Forsberg will earn $2.55 million, $2.95 million and $2.75 million for an AAV of $2.75 million.

Signing in-house goaltenders to new contracts hasn’t always worked for Ottawa, as the files under Mike Condon, Andrew Hammond and Anders Nilsson would suggest, but the Senators didn’t have a lot of choice, given the uncertainty surrounding the oft-injured Matt Murray, penciled in as the starter and earning $6.25 million through 2023-24.

Forsberg has appeared in 31 games this season (compared to 20 for Murray). By the numbers, Forsberg is 14-12-2 in 2021-22 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. Murray, currently on the injured reserve list, is 5-12-2, 3.05 and .906.

“We just felt that Anton has brought a lot of stability to our net this year,” Dorion said. “We’re over .500 when he’s in the net.”

Forsberg was an astute waiver pickup by Ottawa on March 21 of last year.

“I didn’t think I’d be in this situation a year ago, especially moving around the way I did,” Forsberg said. “Obviously, I’m very happy to be here, and to spend another three years here,”

Forsberg said he loves the team and welcomes the stability for his family – his fiance and two children, after living in hotels for the better part of two years. He also noted a great working relationship with Sens goalie coach Zac Bierk.

From Dorion to captain Tkachuk and the coaching staff – everyone has raved about Forsberg’s work ethic on and off the ice as well as his strong play in goal this season.

“It just goes to show, when you put in the work, you get rewarded,” Capuano said of Forsberg’s work in the weight room and on the practice ice.

Paul goes to Cup contender on his birthday

Paul, who will look to win a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay this spring and sign a new deal somewhere in July, will be missed by players and fans. But what a 27th birthday gift he received: going to the reigning Cup champs.

“He was a huge part of our team, a huge part of our locker room, community,” Tkachuk said. “He’s one of the best guys – a great teammate, but a better player. We wish him all the best and we’re definitely going to miss him.

“With that being said, we’re excited about Mathieu and what he’s going to bring to our team and the Stanley Cup experience he has. It’s a tough day, you lose a great person, but we’re excited to have Mathieu here.”

All in all, a pretty wild couple of days for the Senators with their roster.

Dorion’s parting message: don’t judge this group now. Wait until next fall.