Article content continued

Photo by Paul Sancya / AP

“We’re pleased with the futures we’ve received in this deal,” said Dorion. “The two second-round picks add to the significant depth of quality selections we’ll have available to us in the next three drafts to fuel our rebuild.”

Dealing Dzingel is no big loss for the Senators.

Really, the Senators had reservations about Dzingel in the first place and this is probably the right decision. Sure, he has 22 goals and 44 points in 57 games this season, but he’s hardly a proven NHL goal scorer and is only in his third full year in the league.

People like Dzingel because of his speed, but he doesn’t exactly pay the price by going into the corners and had of success this season playing on the wing with Duchene. Dzingel will be a good compliment for the Jackets as they make a run in the playoffs.

The Senators have young players in the system that they want to give an opportunity to next season. The club has liked what it has seen from forwards Drake Batherson and Alex Formenton and this will open up sports for them.

The 23-year-old Duclair will get a chance to play here and he has 48 goals and 108 points in 266 career NHL games.

“In Anthony Duclair, we’ve acquired a talented young winger who has a history of scoring goals in the league,” Dorion added. “We plan to give him the opportunity to succeed here and expect that his speed and skill set will allow him to fit as part of our future.”

As for Stone, he remains the most valuable player on the market, but there’s still a slim hope the two sides could get an extension in place. Yes, his camp turned down an offer of a new eight-year deal before the club’s 3-0 loss to New Jersey Thursday, but you can’t rule out more contract talks.