Just a few weeks ago, I penned a piece outlining the reasons why it may be in Ottawa’s best interests to listen to offers on Milan Michalek, especially if it could net a top four defenceman in return.
Well, if you believe some suggestions out of Winnipeg, perhaps that market for a top four defenceman could materialize in Winnipeg.
From the Winnipeg Sun‘s Ken Wiebe:
We’re not suggesting the Jets are — or will — be shopping Enstrom.
However, it’s no secret the Jets’ organizational depth is on the blue-line and it’s no secret the Jets need to add to their forward group.
So, you have to figure general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is going to have to at least listen if teams start calling, to get a better idea of what he could get back.
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft is less than a month away and that’s a time where teams historically make blockbuster deals, either for draft picks or other top-end talents.
From where we sit, Enstrom seems like the kind of guy who could bring the top-six forward the Jets’ covet, not to mention need, in order to take the next step.
Entering the final season of his contract that carries an average annual of $3.75M, Tobias Enstrom will hit UFA in July 2013 and it makes him a logical candidate for a trade, especially since this year’s NHL Draft is riddled with defencemen who are projected to be drafted within the top five to fifteen picks. With the ninth overall selection, Winnipeg can parlay some of their current defensive depth and replace it with a selection at this year’s draft.
Having posted consecutive 50-point seasons in 2009/10 and 2010/11, his 33 points last season were a step down but he also missed 20 games due to injury. Playing on the team’s first pairing with Dustin Byfuglien, Enstrom finished with Winnipeg’s second highest average TOI/G (23:50) and the third highest relative Corsi amongst regulars (but first amongst defencemen).
Now with this beign said, because of the uncertainty as to whether or not he would like to test the FA market for his next contract, one would have to imagine that this will hinder his trade value. Without that team control, Ottawa would probably have reservations about moving some of their forward depth to acquire him.
Perhaps, if possible, the Senators would be better suited to ambitiously inquire on Zach Bogosian’s availability and as Pierre Dorion told NHL.com today, they have the pieces to make things happen.
“I think our depth is good right now. The main thing that allows you to do is to make deals like Bryan did, like trading [David] Rundblad and a second rounder for Kyle Turris, trading your second rounder next year for a guy like Ben Bishop. That’s really what it allows you to do.”
Bogosian, a RFA this July, is from Massena, New York native and actually grew up as a Senators fan.
When talking to NHL.com about his draft day, he said, “It was a pretty special day. It was in Ottawa, which was an hour and a half from my house so I had a lot of friends and family there. I grew up a Senators fan so it was pretty cool to get drafted in the rink that they play in.”
Although he may never be at Enstrom’s-level when it comes to driving puck possession, Bogosian would fulfill Bryan Murray’s desire to acquire a defensive defenceman. He even played against a higher quality of competition than Enstrom last season.
While the odds of making a specific move for Bogosian may be small, it is the kind of move that fits in with the Turris and Bishop trades and is one that I could see the organization look into pursuing.
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