Senators 2024 Free Agency Preview: Focus shifts after addressing goaltending

01/07/2024

When Steve Staios was asked how busy he expected to be when NHL free agency opens on Monday, he said it depends on what trades he’s able to make before then.

Just last week, the Senators general manager addressed his goaltending concerns by getting Linus Ullmark from Boston while getting rid of three-quarters of Joonas Korpisalo’s contract by sending him to the Bruins.

Now, on to the issues on defence and at forward.

“We’re looking at all areas,” Staios said. “Sometimes the market dictates if it’s the right fit or not.

senators 2024 free agency preview: focus shifts after addressing goaltending

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You identify the player or players you’d like to enquire about and if the value going out is something you’re willing to do.”

At this writing, Staios hasn’t found a deal to his liking, but not for lack of trying at the NHL draft Friday and Saturday.

In an interview with Ottawa sports radio after the draft, Dave Poulin, the Senators Senior VP said the Senators may look to make a trade in conjunction with free agency, suggesting that trades and UFA signings are not “mutually exclusive.”

Certainly, a trade could help clear up some money to sign players as Ottawa currently has less than $11.5 million in cap room as noted below.

It’s believed the Senators are willing to move on from Jakob Chychrun and on the blue line and Mathieu Joseph up front.

They also did not extend a qualifying offer to defenceman Erik Brannstrom on Sunday, and the veteran will now become an unrestricted free agent.

This isn’t Pierre Dorion’s operation anymore and it shows. There is little loyalty to incumbents beyond the Senators’ young core.

Expect more signals of change for the Sens today and Monday and carry on deeper into the summer months.

Salary cap space: $11,300,953

Roster size: 15/23

Salary committed to forwards: $32,619,047

Salary committed to defence: $27,155,000

Salary committed to goalies: $7,750,000

Potential UFA targets:

This space was supposed to lead with defenceman Chris Tanev of the Dallas Stars. But when the tough, right-shot, puck-eating defenceman had his rights traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, it became clear the Senators would not likely get a shot at Tanev as a free agent.

This miss might not be the worst thing. Look for Tanev to get massively overpaid and extended with term. Ottawa doesn’t have the cap room to load up on one player like that, and shouldn’t want to give a 34-year-old with heavy miles on his body a long-term deal.

Brett Pesce is another right-shot defenceman who could have fit the bill, but he appears to be headed to the New Jersey Devils.

Matt Roy, 29, D

Here’s a right-shot defenceman who is going to market because the Kings could not come to terms with this steady, heady player. Like Tanev, Roy is not afraid to put his body on the line – he was 7th in the league in shot blocks with 197. Tanev was fourth with 207 in 75 games played. If the Senators can move on from Jakob Chychrun, Roy could slot in nicely in a top-four pairing alongside Thomas Chabot or Jake Sanderson. Artem Zub is the holdover, reliable right-shot D, usually paired with Sanderson.

The issue the Senators are going to run into with Roy is that as the market shrinks – with Tanev presumably off it now – the price on Roy just escalates. While he earned a reasonable $3.15 last season on a previous deal, Roy is in for a big raise. And at age 29, he can command a long-term as well. He will be a player of interest on Monday.

Nikita Zadorov, 29, D

Here’s an oak tree of a player who would fit the profile of Ottawa’s roster approach (see the Senators draft list from Friday and Saturday, where BIG boys were picked). Alas, Zadorov shoots left and not right. Once again, the Senators will have to get in line as there is a lot of interest in Zadorov, a former Calgary Flame whom Staios knows well from his time in the Edmonton Oilers organization. Zadorov’s value grew the bigger the games got for Vancouver. He was a solid performer in the playoffs, playing good defence and chipping in with four goals and four assists in 13 games.

Tyler Toffoli, 32, RW

All Toffoli does is score, everywhere he goes. He had 28 with Montreal in just 52 games in 2020-21, 34 goals with Calgary and 73 points two seasons ago. And this past season he produced 33 goals combined with New Jersey and Winnipeg. It will come down to cost. Toffoli had an AAV of $4.25M on his last deal. The Sens might be looking for less expensive options for their forward group, but they may not find a more reliable scorer than the guy who once popped 57 goals for the OHL Ottawa 67’s back in 2010-11.

Corey Perry, 39, RW

No, Corey Perry is not done yet. “I’ve got more in me,” Perry told Sportsnet’s Mark Spector as the Oilers season was ending in the Stanley Cup final. “I’ve got lots more in me, five more years.”

The Senators could be happy with just another year or two from Perry, who signed a $1.1M deal with Edmonton after being waived by the Chicago Blackhawks for “unacceptable behaviour” stemming from an off-ice incident. Perry had been a good fit in Chicago, helping out rookie star Connor Bedard. I think Perry would love to come to Ottawa, just down Highway 7 from his Peterborough roots. He would add spice to the Senators’ attack and will go to the net, to say the least. He is also a magnet for Cup final appearances, having made five. In 213 playoff games, Perry has contributed 54 goals and 127 points. He scored a big goal for the Oilers in the Cup final and had 12 in the regular season.

Adam Henrique, 34, C

Here’s another useful veteran who can play a solid overall game and still contribute offensively. Henrique scored 24 goals this past season with Anaheim and Edmonton. He did earn $5.8M and so cost could be a factor for Ottawa, depending on league interest in Henrique. You might remember Henrique was a great fit alongside former Senators Nick Paul and Connor Brown while winning a world championship gold medal for Canada three years ago.