Marc Methot opens up about ‘difficult’ time leaving Sens, trade to Stars

Newest Dallas Stars defenceman Marc Methot sums up his last couple of eventful weeks, including his reaching out to Dion Phaneuf to tell him he had every right not to waive his no-movement clause.

It has been a whirlwind June for Marc Methot and the veteran blueliner already misses the Ottawa Senators.

When Dion Phaneuf declined to waive his no-movement clause prior to the NHL Expansion Draft and the Senators chose to protect Cody Ceci, Methot was exposed and then selected by the Vegas Golden Knights. Five days later he was traded to the Dallas Stars.

“The whole process was difficult,” Methot told CTV Ottawa. “I think it’s one thing if you’re being picked up by a team that actually wants you, but when you know that you’re being snagged for trade bait so to speak—in the middle of a contract after a great season that we had—I think that made it very difficult for me.”

The Ottawa native began his NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets but was traded to his hometown team in 2012.

“I mean I loved it here,” Methot said of his five seasons in Ottawa. “I didn’t want to go anywhere. I never asked for this … I’m going to miss the fans. Everyone was extremely supportive. I mean Ottawa’s my home. That’s not going to change. I’ll be living here even when I’m done playing so I’m very grateful and thankful for all their support.”

Methot, 32, developed a solid rapport with Erik Karlsson on Ottawa’s top defensive pair.

“We had a fantastic time playing together,” Methot said. “Ups and downs, times where we’d be yelling at each another on the bench and mostly good times.”

Now Methot heads to a Stars team coming off a disappointing season in which they failed to qualify for the playoffs just one year after finishing first in the Western Conference.

“I like that they have a good team,” Methot added. “That’s the first thing that you look at when you get traded.”

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