With Training Camp now just a couple weeks away, it sounds like General Manager Pierre Dorion is still thinking about tinkering with his line up.
The rumours of a Professional Try-Out (PTO) have been circulating for some time. Dorion met briefly with the media yesterday and suggested that the Senators are still looking at their options on that front. And while it was previously assumed that their target was a defenceman, it sounds like they are considering options up front too.
While the Senators have maintained that they’re confident in Clarke MacArthur’s ability to return to the line up full-time, a back up plan of some sort is being considered. The free agent market is fairly limited at this point but assuming the target is a LW, names like Alex Tanguay and Tomas Fleischmann seem to make sense.
Tanguay had 35 points in 70 games last year and is still looking to land somewhere ahead of training camp. Meanwhile Fleischmann split last season between Montreal and Chicago.
While there are no specific rumours linking either of those players to Ottawa, they fit the profile, assuming Dorion is thinking specifically about someone who could play LW and chip in with some offence. It’s worth noting that in his comments to the media, Dorion seemed to suggest they were talking contract, not PTO, when it came to a forward addition. The full list of available forwards is here.
On defence, it’s clear the Senators would like to create a little additional competition for the spots on the third pairing. Chris Wideman, Mark Borowiecki and Thomas Chabot are all in the mix but Management and the Coaching Staff like the idea of having another veteran option in Camp to push for those spots. Dennis Seidenberg is still hoping to catch on with someone but he’s hoping for a contract rather than a PTO.
Barret Jackman is another option while Bruce Garrioch suggests that the Senators have kicked tires on Kris Russell. The full list of UFA options is here.
Dorion made it clear that there’s a chance they could end up doing nothing but with Training Camp on the horizon, it’s clear that Pierre Dorion is still considering his options.
#Sens GM Pierre Dorion speaks to media after yesterday’s Sens Charity Golf Classic.
WATCH: https://t.co/Ys0sEcHsgd pic.twitter.com/7r4ob0b50p
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 13, 2016
