With so many of their own restricted free agents to take care of this summer, it’s pretty safe to assume that the Ottawa Senators will not be players in free agency this off season.
They may go shopping for some help on the blueline but for the most part, July 1 and the free agent frenzy is going to be pretty quiet around these parts. The Senators don’t really have any significant holes to fill and it’s a good thing too because it sounds like that internal budget is going to be a factor again this off season.
Not to the point where Murray has his hands completely tied or anything but the Senators will have to smart to fit in all the RFAs within the new internal number which is expected to be higher than last season but certainly not all the way to the $72 million cap.
And that fiscal reality may mean the Senators lose at least one important player from last year’s run.
Erik Condra, a key piece on that third line with Jean Gabriel Pageau and Curtis Lazar, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. And while Condra has been pretty open about his desire to stay here in Ottawa, it’s going to be tough for the Senators to find the money and the roster spot to bring Condra back next season.
Condra is a perfect bottom six guy. He has an incredible hockey sense, is comfortable on both left and right wing, can play up in the lineup in a pinch and is a staple on the team’s penalty kill. Once Dave Cameron took over, it became pretty clear that Condra was viewed as one of the team’s most dependable forwards.
And while his offensive numbers are never going to blow anyone away, his ability to drive possession makes him a valuable asset to this team. And you know some other team will see it the same way.
I don’t think the Senators have completely closed the door on Condra just yet though. If they are able to move a couple veteran contracts this summer like Legwand and Greening in particular, there might be room to bring Condra back.
At this point, you have to think Condra and his agent are looking ahead to free agency. There wouldn’t exactly be a bidding war for his services if Condra hits the open market but with so many teams recognizing the value of a bottom six guy that can drive possession, it’s reasonable to think Erik Condra could get north of $2 million a season on the open market.
Deciding what to do with Erik Condra is one of the many difficult decisions facing Bryan Murray and his staff over the next few weeks.
