So today is July 8th.
As of July 1st, players with one year remaining on their contract were eligible to discuss contract extensions with their current team. So that means seven days have gone by and still no word on an extension for Bobby Ryan. Getting Ryan locked up is one of this off season’s top priorities but there has been little movement.
And while it seems like both sides would like to get something done, there really hasn’t been much in the way of negotiations so far.
While it would have been nice to announce a big ol’ extension on July 1st, there’s no reason to rush this. It has been mentioned before but a big part of Ryan’s willingness to extend will be based on the performance of the team and a commitment to winning from Ownership.
Even if it’s not this season, Ryan wants to know that the team is headed in the right direction.
Marc Methot and Clarke MacArthur are in the same boat. Craig Anderson’s situation is a little different but he too is entering the final year of his deal. All three players have been vocal about wanting to stay in Ottawa. Although like Ryan, you would assume they want to have a good sense on the direction of the hockey team and have some indication from Ownership that winning is a priority.
As great as it would be to have these guys locked up, the idea of four veteran players entering a contract year isn’t the worst thing in the world. Ryan, MacArthur, Methot and Anderson will all want to cash in on their next deal, either in Ottawa or elsewhere, and know a strong season will help them do that.
If Ottawa gets the sense that any of these four aren’t interested in an extension or that the dollars are unrealistic, a trade becomes a priority. Certainly can’t risk losing any of these guys for nothing.
Either way, the discussion on contract extensions needs to start sooner rather than later.
-Sad news from the Senators yesterday, announcing that General Manager Bryan Murray has been diagnosed with cancer. The outpouring of support here on the site and on Twitter was amazing to watch though. Nice to see the hockey community rally around one of the great guys in the game. Even when Murray is forced to take time away from the team, you know he’ll continue to have a say in the decisions made. Nice to know he’ll have more than capable support from Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee along the way. Again, best of luck to Bryan and his family as they begin this fight.
-We talked about it a little bit yesterday but not a whole lot of new information regarding the mystery deal that Murray hinted at on July 1st. Priority seems to be another physical winger that can score but not a lot of information available beyond that. The people I have talked to seem confident there’s still something in the works but the details are certainly well-guarded at this point.
-The Senators wrapped up Development Camp yesterday with the always entertaining 3 on 3 tournament. Team Black, made up of Shane Prince, Tobias Lindberg, Nick Paul, Troy Rutkowski, Kevin Tansey and Garret Thompson came away with the win. Forward Curtis Lazar won the title of Hardest Working Player in Camp. SensTV has highlights from the camp which are posted below.
