(UPDATE 1:47 PM)- Good timing for this article as today, the Ottawa Senators signed forward Mike Hoffman to a one year, two way contract. As I mentioned below, Hoffman will have a chance to prove he can be a regular at the NHL level when camp begins in September. With so many quality prospects pushing for ice time, this is going to be a huge year for Hoffman with the Sens organization.
As busy as he has been, Sens GM Bryan Murray still has some work to do this off season.
While he's certainly done on the UFA front and probably done trading, he still has his hands full when it comes to restricted free agents. Patrick Wiercioch and Jared Cowen are the top priorties right now but there's one other name that Murray needs to pay close attention to over the next couple weeks and that's forward Mike Hoffman.
Hoffman is a skilled forward with terrific speed and strong offensive instincts. He showed flashes of what he can do in his short stint with the team last season before running into injury troubles.
The 23 year old Kitchener native appeared in just three games, going pointless, but certainly didn't look uncomfortable in his NHL audition. Hoffman is a player that the organization speaks very highly of and a player that will have a chance to impress at training camp.
Jason Spezza, Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris, and Milan Michalek all have top six spots locked up but there will be competition for the final two wing spots. New addition Clarke MacArthur, trade deadline acquisition Cory Conacher, playoff hero Colin Greening, top prospect Mark Stone and converted centre Mika Zibanejad will all be in the mix but Hoffman is right there with them.
The competition for forward spots will be incredibly intense at camp in a couple months.
Hard to know what kind of contract Hoffman will get but something similar to Borowiecki in terms of a two way in year one, and one way in year two might be a possibility.
With three full pro seasons under his belt, Hoffman appears to be ready to make the jump to the NHL level. If not for a collarbone injury at the end of last year, he may have found his way into the team's playoff line up. This is a big off season for Hoffman and September's training camp will be his chance to show he belongs.
Where do you see Hoffman fitting in next season?
- The Senators big off season addition will finally roll into town tomorrow. Bobby Ryan will make his first trip to the Nation's Capital and will be speaking to a number of different media outlets over the course of the day. Caught Ryan's interview on the Team 1200 in the hours following the trade and he sounded legitimately thrilled to be a Senator. Look forward to hearing more of that on Wednesday.
- The league still hasn't confirmed it but there's a possibility the schedule for the 2013/2014 season is released at some point tomorrow. All eyes will be on that first meeting between new division rivals, Detroit and Ottawa and more importantly, Alfredsson's first game here in Ottawa. The media hype around that one will be ridiculous.
It’s official. Glad to be part of Ottawa for at least another year.
— Mike Hoffman (@MHoffy68) July 17, 2013
