Next weeks will be pivotal in determining Senators' deadline approach
The Ottawa Senators are in Arizona for their annual scouting meetings. They are nine points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card spot. The team is interested in Matthew Dumba and Jakob Chychrun. If they fall out of contention, they will consider keeping Cam Talbot. . . The Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets are interested. It is also possible that the Coyotes will sell Jakub Chiherer to the Senators. He has five goals and 20 points in 24 games since returning from a wrist surgery. His asking price is two first-round picks and a high-end prospect.
Drake Batherson is second on the NHL's plus-minus leaderboard at minus-28. He is one point ahead of St. Louis forward Ryan O'Reilly.
Batherson is aware of the plus/minus statistic and hopes to improve his game. Coach D.J. Smith believes that the player's problem is scoring. Senators' next weeks will be pivotal in determining Senators’ deadline approach. The team's next game is against Nashville.
Bodog, an online sports book, released odds Thursday. Ryan Reynolds is the favourite to be the majority owner of the Senators when the Melnyk family closes the deal. Michael Andlauer, the owner and part-owner of Hamilton Bullldogs and Montreal Canadiens, is listed in second place at +245. Toronto real estate billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel are listed at -245 and +240.
