Panthers GM: Sens wanted players in exchange for Hoffman, not picks

San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson had a productive Tuesday morning. All before 7:30 a.m. PT, Wilson managed to trade underachieving forward Mikkel Boedker's $4-million cap hit, defense prospect Julius Bergman, and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and two fifth-round picks.

Of course, Wilson was able to do this by acquiring Mike Hoffman from the Ottawa Senators, then flipping him to the Florida Panthers hours later.

Since the Sharks' return from the Panthers for Hoffman appears to be better than what they gave up to acquire him, one might ask, why didn't Sens GM Pierre Dorion swing a deal with the Panthers?

Dorion was interested in making a deal with Florida, but he wanted players in return, not picks, Panthers GM Dale Tallon told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. Given Dorion's preferred return, Tallon never offered him the package he sent to San Jose. Dorion even contacted Tallon about Hoffman last week, but Tallon was told the price was too high.

It's clear that the Sens had their eyes on a player on Florida's roster that Tallon was unwilling to part with. Who that player might've been remains to be seen.

Rebuilding teams would usually welcome a load of draft picks in exchange for a player that they needed to trade with open arms, but for Dorion and the Senators, that apparently wasn't the case.