gustavsson-feb23-NHL

Sens general manager Pierre Dorion made a splash on Friday in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins and we take a look at the pieces coming back to Ottawa.

Filip Gustavsson
We first wrote about Gustavsson (
https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/sport-chek-prospect-profile-filip-gustavsson/c-46816
) leading up to the 2016 NHL Draft where he was the top ranked European goaltender available. Well a little over 18 months later, there's still a lot to like about the 6'2" Swedish goaltender.
"In this deal we have acquired an elite goaltending prospect and a second first-round pick in June," said Sens GM Pierre Dorion. "We feel that Gustavsson is one of the game's top goaltending prospects, a dynamic talent who has excelled in the Swedish Hockey League as a teenager and was the top goaltender at the most recent world junior championship. Ian Cole is a hard-nosed veteran defenceman who has a long pedigree of success, which includes two Stanley Cups."
Gustavsson was recently named the top goaltender at the 2018 World Junior Championship in Buffalo where he helped Sweden to a silver medal finish. He's been equally impressive during his stint in the SHL this season recording a save percentage of .917 as a 19-year-old in Sweden's top league. As he continues to develop overseas, Gustavsson, who signed an entry-level contract last summer, knows it will help him with his eventual move to professional hockey in North America.
"In terms of the long-term plan, it's clear that I'll be over there," Gustavsson told
www.nsd.se
last summer. "But I won't get there if I'm not a top goalie here in Sweden first because in North America the league is almost twice as good."

Ian Cole
In Cole, a former first round pick of the St. Louis Blues back in 2007, the Sens get a left shooting, two-time Stanley Cup winner that can help stabilize the back end. In 385 NHL games, Cole has accumulated 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points and has also appeared in 56 playoff games with the Blues and Penguins.

cole-feb23-nhl

Cole is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2018.
First round pick
By acquiring a first round pick from the Penguins in this deal, the Sens currently have two selections in the opening round. The first round pick that Ottawa sent to Colorado in the Matt Duchene trade in November remains top 10 protected which means Dorion and the Senators could find themselves in a prime position at the end of June at the NHL Draft.