OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators continue to make moves as the NHL trade deadline quickly approaches.
Ottawa acquired goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson, defenceman Ian Cole, a 2018 first-round draft pick and a 2019 third-rounder from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in a three-team deal also involving the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Senators sent forwards Derick Brassard and Vincent Dunn and Ottawa's third-round selection in the 2018 draft back to the Penguins.
Ottawa will save some money in the deal as Brassard's contract runs through 2018-19, with an annual average of US$5 million.
After reaching last year's Eastern Conference final, the Senators are currently second-last in the standings. Heading into Friday night's games, Ottawa was 13 points out of a playoff spot.
Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has made three trades since Feb. 13 as the club appears to be planning for the future.
Ottawa also shipped defenceman Dion Phaneuf to Los Angeles in a four-player deal, two days before sending forward Chris DiDomenico to Chicago for defenceman Ville Pokka on Feb. 15.
The Senators began making deals back in November when the sent Kyle Turris to Nashville for Matt Duchene in a three-team, multi-player transaction.
Most of the suspense still surrounds Senators captain and star defenceman Erik Karlsson, who has one more year on his current deal but may be seeking more than Ottawa is ready to pay when his contract expires in 2019. Any move involving the two-time Norris Trophy winner would require a massive return in draft picks and players or prospects.
The trade deadline is set for Monday at 3 p.m. EST.
Pittsburgh also received prospect forward Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick originally acquired from Vancouver in Friday's deal.
According to a Penguins release, Vegas is retaining 40 per cent of Brassard's salary this season.
The 19-year-old Gustavsson was picked 55th overall in the 2016 draft by Pittsburgh.
Gustavsson, a six-foot-two, 184-pound native of Skelleftea, Sweden, currently plays for Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League, where he has posted an 8-9-0 record with a 2.16 goals-against-average and .917 save percentage in 18 games.
He was Sweden's starting goaltender at the 2018 world junior championship and was named the tournament's top goaltender after posting a 1.81 GAA and .924 save percentage in six games.
Cole, 29, has recorded three goals and 13 points with 52 penalty minutes in 47 games with the Penguins this season. The six-foot-one, 219-pound native of Ann Arbor, Mich. has registered 18 goals and 90 points in 385 career games with the St. Louis Blues and Penguins.
The Canadian Press