Senators say they're open for business

TORONTO -- Mike Hoffman knows the emails will soon start flooding in again. The text messages will too.
When Hoffman's name popped up among several Ottawa Senators involved in trade rumors several weeks ago, he began getting peppered with questions about his future from all directions.

"They came from everyone; friends, family … probably 95 percent of the people I know," Hoffman admitted after the Senators morning skate at Air Canada Centre on Saturday. "It was really bad the first week, but it's kind of died down a bit."
Not for long. Not after Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, fresh off signing a three-year extension Friday, confirmed that moves are likely prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 26.

About an hour after Hoffman had discussed how trade scuttlebutt was impacting his life, Dorion was at the Senators hotel in downtown Toronto telling a handful of reporters that he was open for business.
Aside from captain Erik Karlsson, forward Mark Stone and defenseman Thomas Chabot, Dorion has been listening to offers for every player on the roster.
"We've put ourselves in the position that we're in right now. For us to say there won't be any changes would be foolish," Dorion said. "We're definitely looking at change. We have a plan in place."
Dorion would like to keep Stone and Karlsson moving forward. Stone is a restricted free agent this summer; Karlsson is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.
Normally upbeat, Dorion doesn't scowl much. But he flashed a rare one in the press box during the first intermission of the Senators' 6-3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Ottawa trailed 3-0 after 20 minutes.
By the time it was over, Dorion had long regained his composure. The same couldn't be said for Karlsson, who smashed his stick in frustration after Patrick Marleau's empty-net goal at 18:38 of the third period.

Nine months after reaching the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Senators (19-26-9) are 29th in the NHL standings with 47 points. As such, they will be one of the few sellers in what clearly is a buyer's market.
The players know it too.
"It's part of the business we're in, part of the hockey nature," Hoffman said. "If we didn't want to be in situations like that, we could have picked a different profession.
"This is the life we chose. And we know that when a team puts itself in a position like we have, these are the things that go along with it. So, we as professionals have to handle it the best way we can."
Hoffman, 28, is a commodity any goal-starved team covets; a left wing with a lethal shot who scored 27, 29 and 26 goals in the three seasons leading up to 2017-18. Like many of his teammates, his production has slipped this season (15 goals in 54 games).
"These days, everyone that follows sports knows what's happening, especially hockey in (Canada)," he said of the rumors. "Twitter, Instagram … it's impossible to get away from. You just can't let it affect your performance.
"For sure, I'd like to stay. This is where I started. You build friendships, relationships within the organization and around the arena.
"This is where I want to be and where I want to play."
Given Dorion's vow of change, it won't be Hoffman's choice. In the process, he and his teammates will be hearing plenty of speculation in the next three weeks.
It's part of being in Canada. Just ask Senators center Matt Duchene.
Having requested a trade from the Colorado Avalanche last season, Duchene, 27, didn't hear many rumors in Denver. That changed when he went to his lakeside residence just north of his hometown of Haliburton, Ontario, during the summer.
"I'd be watching Blue Jays highlights on TV and boom, there'd be something about me on there," he said. "I'd be like, 'Holy (cow)!' It's tough."

Duchene was acquired by the Senators on Nov. 5 in a three-team deal that also involved the Avalanche and Nashville Predators.
"The guys in this room hearing their names right now, they're going through it way worse than I did," Duchene said. "In Colorado, a lot of time I didn't get asked about it all that much."
In a perfect world, Duchene would love to keep this edition of the Senators together.
"I haven't played on many teams this talented, if any," he said.
But the results haven't been there, leading to frustration throughout the organization.
It was clearly etched on the face of Senators coach Guy Boucher after the loss against the Maple Leafs. The perplexed coach could not understand how his players allowed so much open ice to Mitchell Marner, resulting in his NHL career-high five-points (two goals, three assists).
"I don't think he stopped skating all game, and that was a huge issue," Boucher said. "I mean, we can't try to out-skill teams - especially a high-end team like Toronto - and think we'll be successful. It's not going to work."
It hasn't been working for much of the season. As a result, Dorion feels the Senators might have to endure short-term pain for long-term success.
"We have a good idea what we need to do for us to be a contender in the long run," Dorion said. "Whether that means us taking a step or two backwards, well, to have long-term success is definitely something we're looking at."