Ottawa Senators coach DJ Smith says trade deadline talk is tough on players

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The next week won’t be easy for some Ottawa Senators players.

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Do they stay or do they go? It’ll be up to Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and, in some cases, his agents to let them know.

Seven days away from the NHL trade deadline next Monday at 3 pm EDT, and a few Ottawa players are likely wondering what the future holds. Yes, Dorion noted Friday that it has been quiet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t change.

One way or another, the player with the biggest decision to make is winger Nick Paul. He’s the most sought after on the club’s roster and there will come a time later this week where negotiations enter the take it or leave it stage.

Speaking with reporters Friday, Dorion indicated he wants to keep Paul and has had talks with his Toronto-based agent Paul Capizzano. Both have agreed not to make any of those discussions public but we’re getting down the short strokes here.

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If he opts not to sign the club’s final offer — and it’s believed the Senators have talked to him about a three-or-four-year term — then Paul will be dealt with. The 26-year-old has garnered lots of interest, and though the Senators want to keep him, they’re not going to overpay for a role player.

By the time the Senators are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Flyers at home Friday and Montreal Canadiens Saturday on the road, if Paul hasn’t signed then there’s a chance, he’s a healthy scratch so the club can protect its asset.

We’ll see where this goes in the next seven days, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Coach DJ Smith says this is a tough time for players, but Paul looked pretty good scoring his 11th of the season against Marc-Andre Fleury in the club’s 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at home.

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“I think this is still a stressful time,” Smith said. “I think one of the myths is they’re adults and they can handle this stuff. That’s just simply not true. Whether it’s junior or professional, they have to be talked to on a regular basis. Everybody has feelings and everyone has mental health.

“Everyone has highs and lows and at this point of the year if you’re a guy who doesn’t have a contract and is possibly being traded, it’s not just you, it’s your family. It’s moving, it’s the whole thing that goes with it. It’d be wrong to say that we think it doesn’t bother people because it has.

“If anyone in life knew they were changing jobs, changing cities and just changing everything within the next month, a lot of people wouldn’t sleep every night. You have to put it into perspective and see what happens here. That’s (Dorion’s) job and my job is to coach the team, but when they’re here I talk to them and try to get the best out of them every single day.”

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Dorion isn’t expecting to be active because there’s only been limited interest in his unrestricted free agents. He has allowed Victor Mete’s agent Darren Ferris to see if he can find a team that will give up a draft pick to make a trade.

There has been good interest in Chris Tierney and Josh Brown, however, there are no guarantees. As for Zach Sanford, there hasn’t been much.

NO FURTHER DISCIPLINE

The NHL’s department of player safety reviewed winger Parker Kelly’s hit on Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy and opted for no further discipline.

Murphy was taken off the ice on a stretcher, but didn’t go to hospital after his head hit the boards. Smith spoke with Kelly to make sure he was okay because he looked shaken up in the penalty box.

“It’s unfortunate. I went and saw Parker after the first period and he was down,” Smith said. “He’s a guy that plays physical but he’s not ‘that’ guy. (Murphy) went down the wall, his job is to take him and take him hard.

“(Murphy) kind of turned and it’s too late at that point. He was coming back with some speed and it’s unfortunate.”

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