It's starting to look more likely than not that the Ottawa Senators are going to make some major roster shake ups ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on February 25.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported a while back that the Senators offered Duchene an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value at $8 million per-year. It's worth noting that when Duchene hits the open market, no other team can offer him the eighth year on a contract.
With contract talks appearing to be falling through, the interest in Duchene is likely in increase with one week to go until the 3 p.m. EST deadline.
Ottawa is sitting in a very difficult spot as they don't have their own first round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Senators traded their 2019 first round pick to the Colorado Avalanche last season when they acquired Duchene.
The rebuilding Senators really have no other choice but to sell their pending unrestricted free agents in Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel if they can't work out a contract extension. Yes, they don't have their first round pick and trading those three players will, in theory, make them worse. However, this Senators team isn't in the position to lose these players for nothing, and they have to get assets for them and continue to build for the future.
