The original speculation had been Murray & #7 for #16. I guess that "additional asset" Dreger mentioned was some salary retention. Wish they could have pulled off this trade. <sigh>
Before you wasted your time getting "deep into conversations", wouldn't you say to Ottawa's GM and Murray's agent, "We'd like to have him here. Is the feeling mutual? Is he willing to waive his no-trade in order to be here and start for us?"