The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Derek Stepan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a Senators’ (previously acquired from Columbus) second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Following five consecutive seasons in which he consistently ranged between 53 and 57 points, Stepan's point totals have sunk over the past two seasons. He fell just under a half point per game in 2018-19 (35 points in 72 games), then to just 28 points in 70 games in 2019-20. Stepan's postseason was more encouraging, as he finished third on the Coyotes with five points in nine games. Stepan also led the Coyotes with 1197 faceoffs, which was a higher number than any Senators player in 2019-20.

Stepan is on the final year of his contract, but don't assume that the Sens will be able to easily unload him at the deadline because of his $6.5 million cap hit (now the highest among Senators forwards). Real salary to be paid by the Senators? That's a different story.

For the coming season, the Senators receive a center who could probably slot in anywhere on the top three lines. That could mean that one of the forwards that you were hoping would make the Senators could start the season on the taxi squad or the AHL (if it exists this season). Tim Stuetzle might have the highest upside of any scorer in the Sens organization, but the consensus last-place-in-Canada Senators may now have less incentive to throw him to the wolves of a highly competitive North Division. Even if Stuetzle makes the team, one of Josh Norris or Logan Brown could also be the odd man out with a poor camp.

If Sens coach D.J. Smith decides that Stepan's experience is a fit for the top line, his acquisition could slightly boost the likes of Evgenii Dadonov and Brady Tkachuk, who are without a doubt top-line forwards on this rebuilding club. Colin White could also potentially be bumped to the second line, although White may be better suited for that role anyway.

Trading Stepan to Ottawa helps Arizona's cap situation, but it could also mean that the Coyotes feel confident that Barrett Hayton is ready to step into a more significant role – perhaps even in the top 6. Hayton averaged about 11 minutes in both the 2019-20 regular season and postseason. Expect that number to increase as one of last year's World Juniors stars gets his chance to prove himself at the NHL level.

Both the Senators and Coyotes are devoid of elite scorers, so we're not talking a major change either way for both teams. It's more to recognize who might receive a more/less significant role in the 2020-21 season.  

Players this helps, in order:

Hayton

Dadonov

Tkachuk

Christian Dvorak

Players this hurts, in order:

Stuetzle/Norris/Brown

White

Chris Tierney

Artem Anisimov

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