Senators fans united in dread as deadline deals unfold

For Ottawa Senators fans, it felt like the final twist of the knife: the team's top three goal scorers, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingeland Mark Stoneeach in their prime and each in the final year of their contracts scratched fromthe lineup before Thursday night's lop-sided loss in New Jersey, another woeful affair.

• With trade bait Duchene, Stone, Dzingel sitting out, Senators no match for Devils

It was as sure a sign as any that the team was protecting its stars as trade fodder instead ofre-signing them, only to see them leavethissummer.

Indeed, on Fridaymorning Duchenewas dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in Ottawa to play that night.

• Senators deal Matt Duchene to Blue Jackets for prospects

For theSenators, there's no bright side, no cold consolation that usually comes with being thelast-place team: namely,the best chance to win the draft lottery for high-scoring American forward Jack Hughes.

They surrenderedthat advantage to Coloradolast season as part of the deal to getDuchene, now gone.

If Stone goes too, that would leave just six Senators players from the roster that went to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2017, the team that fell a single goal short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

That includes former captain and two-time best defenceman Erik Karlsson, sent to San Jose at the start of training camp.

Senators leadership, including owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager Pierre Dorion, have openly talked about rebuilding the team with younger talent over the next few seasons to give it a better shot at long-term success.

A sampling of fan reaction beforeFriday's tradesuggestedthey weren't holding out much hope.

After the trade, reaction was more mixed.

The Senators also risk losingforwardMagnusPaajarviand goalie Anders Nilsson to unrestricted free agency this summer.

Colin White and Cody Cecineed new contracts, but another team would have to give up draft picks to sign them, and the Sens would have the right to match.

The team has called up two of its top prospects, Logan Brown and DrakeBatherson,ahead of tonight's home game against Columbus.

It's not clear whether Stone or Dzingelwill play tonight or on Sunday, the last game before Monday's 3 p.m. ET deadline to make trades this season.