Call it sticker shock.
If the reported asking price for Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene is what's needed to pry the center out of Denver, don't expect the Ottawa Senators to be part of the bidding.
On Wednesday, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk commented on the trade speculation surrounding his club and its link to the Avalanche forward.
"Did you see what they want for Duchene and stuff? Oh my God," Melnyk told the Canadian Press. "It's going to be silly because there's so many competitive teams, especially in our conference. From bottom to top, even if I was at the bottom I'd still have hope."
Related: Senators owner willing to expand budget if deal makes sense
The Senators hold down the second seed in the Atlantic but are just one point above the last wild card position, held by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Five Eastern teams are also within five points of the final spot.
| Rank | Team | GP | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WC1 | Rangers | 56 | 37-18-1 | 75 |
| WC2 | Maple Leafs | 56 | 26-19-11 | 63 |
| 3 | Flyers | 57 | 27-23-7 | 61 |
| 4 | Islanders | 55 | 25-20-10 | 60 |
| 5 | Panthers | 55 | 25-20-10 | 60 |
| 6 | Devils | 56 | 24-22-10 | 58 |
| 7 | Sabres | 57 | 24-23-10 | 58 |
The Senators are believed to be looking for an upgrade at forward prior to the March 1 trade deadline, but are cautious on the price to make an addition.
"I think it will be way too expensive and we're not going to jeopardize our future. Everyone wants our young stars and I don't blame them," Melnyk added. "I think we're going to be smart about it to build a long-term base and a long-term team, but we're urgently wanting to win of course."
