Looking Back: Nick Foligno for Marc Methot

Two summers ago, the Senators aquired defenseman Marc Methot from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Nick Foligno. The July 1, 2012 move made sense for the Senators, who would lose defenders Matt Carkner and Filip Kuba to free agency that summer, and for the Blue Jackets, who no longer seemed to have a fit for Methot after an injury-plagued season.

At the time, Foligno was coming off his best season as a Senator, with 15 goals (his second-best career total at the time) and 47 points. He was productive during Ottawa's seven-game playoff series against the New York Rangers, chipping in a goal and three assists. After floating between the second and third lines for most of his five-year career in the capital, Foligno looked like he might permanently grab a spot on the second line. The one black mark on his season was his jump in penalty minutes. He went from a career-high 53 penalty minutes (2009-2010) to 124 in 2011-2012 while adding eight more in the playoffs.

Methot was coming off a much more difficult year. He re-signed with Columbus during the 2011 off-season, a deal that would pay him $12 million over four years. But a series of injuries, including a mandibular (jaw) fracture limited his playing time. He dressed in only 46 games but did represent Canada at the 2012 World Championships.

Methot's first season in the capital was a successful one. He played 47 games during the lockout-shortened season, and was Ottawa's best defenseman when Erik Karlsson went down with his Achilles injury. Foligno had been an RFA at the time of the deal and was signed five days after the trade for three years and $9.25 million. Foligno's play in 2012-2013 dipped somewhat from the pace of his career high in 2011-2012, but he managed six goals and 19 points in 45 games.

Methot's first full season in Ottawa (2013-2014) was somewhat rockier than 2012-2013. He struggled at times and was even a healthy scratch. Foligno's 2013-2014 was more successful. He reached a career high in goals (18) and finished with 39 points, the second-best total of his career, in only 70 games. He also chipped in with two playoff goals, including an OT winner.

Both players are UFAs at the end of the 2014-2015 season. Marc Methot's name has been mentioned as suitable for the vacant Ottawa captaincy. Columbus fans are just as enamoured with Foligno. At the time of the trade, the deal seemed to work for both clubs. There are still good reasons for both Ottawa to re-sign Methot and Columbus to ink Foligno to another deal. Is the trade still a win for both teams? Two years later, would you still make the same trade?

If you were Bryan Murray, would you do the Foligno-Methot swap again?