And now the countdown to a new season can officially begin.
With their two remaining restricted free agents officially under contract for 2018/2019, the Ottawa Senators can turn their attention to the year that lies ahead.
In the case of Mark Stone, it took a last minute deal to avoid arbitration. The Senators inked Stone to a one year contract worth $7.3 million dollars, making Stone the third highest paid player on the team next season. Only Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan will make more, although $2 million of Ryan’s $7.5 price tag was already paid out through a signing bonus.
The deal with Stone means that he is now set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. And while that seems like a huge misstep for the Senators, they probably didn’t have much choice when it came down to it.
Stone wants to see where the team is headed and Melnyk remains reluctant to sign long-term, bonus heavy deals, especially with the future of his Ownership still in doubt.
At the same time, there’s probably a strong argument to be made for the organization hesitating on longterm commitments right now especially given the uncertainty surrounding Erik Karlsson.
While it’s odd that the Senators would intentionally enter the season with their top forward approaching unrestricted free agency, it’s easy to see how they landed on a one year deal.
Flexibility makes sense for everyone involved.
In the case of Cody Ceci, arbitration was always the right move. Pierre Dorion is a big Ceci fan but he obviously recognized the leverage they had here.
A one year deal keeps Ceci as an RFA in July 2019 and it gives Ottawa another year to evaluate his potential as a player.
While fans have mostly made up their mind on Ceci, there’s an argument to be made for keeping him around for at least one more year. Not only do they desperately need NHL bodies back there but maybe there’s still a little bit of untapped potential there.
I know, I know. 366 NHL games. But maybe with a big summer and in a different role he could…ah nevermind. They just needed another NHL defenceman.
With those two lingering issues finally dealt with, Pierre Dorion can finally kick back and relax.
Well except for the fact that his starting goalie asked for a trade and his best player is barrelling towards unrestricted free agency and has been in the rumour mill since February.
Other than that, everything is jusssssst fine.
-The World Junior Summer Showcase wrapped up in Kamloops over the long weekend and a couple of Sens prospects certainly made an impression. For fans that may not know much about Brady Tkachuk, his game was on full display. Physical play, offensive ability and just a general unpleasantness. And this was in a scrimmage. Alex Formenton looked good too, dazzling with his high-end speed and earning praise from Coach Tim Hunter along the way.
Alex Formenton shows off his wheels, zipping down the wing and giving Canada the lead on a buzzer-beater. 2-1 after two periods. pic.twitter.com/ZdjVD18XgA
— Ty Smith’s Burner Account (@DraftLook) August 4, 2018
