Senators’ GM Steve Staios working the phone with deadline Friday

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Steve Staios had the phone glued to his ear Thursday.

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Not much will change Friday morning with the National Hockey League trade deadline set for 3 p.m. EST.

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As the Senators were preparing to take on the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, Staios, their president of hockey operations and general manager, was huddled with his closest advisors at a hotel next door, trying to make some deals.

Staios and the rest of the hockey operations staff that made the trip to the Golden State didn’t attend the 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday and, as of this writing, it wasn’t known if they planned to be at the Kings game, either.

If Staois can add to the Senators’ lineup, he will, but right now he’s trying to sell and get future assets in return.

The Senators set up at a hotel in L.A. Live on Wednesday and have determined they won’t head to San Jose — where they’ll play the Sharks on Saturday — until after the clock strikes zero on the trade deadline Friday.

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If Staios doesn’t make any more deals, it won’t be for a lack of trying.

Here’s what we know as the deadline approaches. Caution: this could all change.

JAKOB CHYCHRUN

He’s the biggest named that teams have been kicking tires on, but, as we’ve stated in this space before, it will take an offer the Senators can’t refuse to make a deal for this defenceman.

Staios noted after, dealing forward Vladimir Tarasenko to the Florida Panthers earlier this week, that “there’s nothing we’re actively doing on Jakob Chychrun. If I was on the other end of the line, I’d certainly be inquiring about a player of that calibre.”

If the Senators were close to dealing Chychrun, they likely would have sat him out of the game against the Kings, but that wasn’t the case, and they didn’t have any extra players on the trip, either.

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With Calgary Flames defenceman Noah Hanifan dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, there was a sense the action on Chychrun might pick up because an acquiring team could have him for two playoff runs.

We’re told the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are among the teams that have inquired about the 25-year-old Chychrun, but, if Ottawa is going to make a deal, it will want a significant return and that could be difficult to get right now.

That could change, though. Chychrun has one year left on his contract at $4.6 million and he’ll be looking for an extension. That’s a decision the Senators can put off until the NHL draft in June or even next year’s deadline.

ERIK BRANNSTROM

The centrepiece of the deal that sent Mark Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 25, 2019, Brannstrom has stepped up to play a bigger role this season.

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But, because he’s making $2 million and scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1, the Senators may not make him a qualifying offer for next season, or, if they bring him back, may attempt to do so at a lower price.

Staios and his staff have no ties to Brannstrom. He’s a good player and he can play in the league, but there are many who wondered why he was signed for such a high price.

NHL executives told Postmedia the Senators have been trying to move Brannstrom, but that hasn’t been easy. The 24-year-old has been used as a winger a couple of times since Jacques Martin took over as the interim head coach and hasn’t done enough offensively.

There is talk the Senators are seeking a second-round pick for Brannstrom, which is a high asking price for a player of his calibre. That could easily come down before the deadline.

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THIS N’ THAT

The Senators have had some interest in centre Mark Kastelic from a few teams. He has one year left on his deal and is coming off a solid effort in Anaheim. He may get moved just for a change of scenery … Some teams have called on defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker … It doesn’t appear to be much of a market for winger Dominik Kubalik. Looks like the Senators will walk away from him in the summer … The Senators might also move Belleville winger Egor Sokolov. If that happens, there may be another American Hockey League player brought back that they want to take a look at. You could also see defenceman Lassi Thomson, who has signed with a team Finland next season, traded as well.

THE INJURY FACTOR

Injuries may have thrown a wrench into Staios’ plans for the deadline. The Senators have 21 games remaining and are shorthanded.

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The decision to send Tarasenko to the Panthers took some depth away from a group of forwards that was already pretty thin.

• Centre Josh Norris isn’t expected to return this season, likely headed for a third surgery on his left shoulder. He’s having it checked by another specialist before a final decision is made.
• Alternate captain and defenceman Thomas Chabot injured a leg injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Ducks and Belleville callup Matthew Highmore, a forward, also left with what looked like a shoulder issue.
• Defenceman Travis Hamonic is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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