When the news broke, late Saturday night, that the Ottawa Senators had acquired 30 year-old Derek Stepan from the Arizona Coyotes, there was a vocal contingent of fans expressing displeasure with giving up a second-round pick.
There’s merit to this, sure. Sending a second-rounder the other way for a guy with a rough-looking salary figure, who posted 28 points in 70 games last year is a tad puzzling on the surface. Especially for an Ottawa team that should have no delusions of competing any time soon, and for whom picks and prospects are premium assets.