The 2018 trade saw the Ottawa Senators receive significant assets including Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, and several draft picks, while the San Jose Sharks acquired Erik Karlsson. Tierney performed decently for the Senators but saw his value decline over time. DeMelo improved in Ottawa but was eventually traded for a lesser return. The Senators' scouting team made a strategic pick that turned out to be Leevi Merilainen, a goalie prospect, suggesting foresight in their drafting strategy amidst a challenging rebuilding phase.
Tierney played in 277 games for the Sens, racking up 32 goals and 90 assists. Despite being a decent third-line center in his first two seasons with the club, they held on to him a bit too long, and watched his value plummet - in 2021-22, his salary was $4.2 million and he produced just 18 points in 70 games.
After playing third-pairing minutes for a few years in San Jose, DeMelo stepped into a larger role with the Sens, not only elevating his own play, but that of Thomas Chabot as well.
Ottawa's scouting staff turned that pick into Leevi Merilainen, an under-the radar goalie prospect out of Finland that seemingly wasn't on any team's radar. You only make that selection if you're suspecting at least one other team is interested.
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