(UPDATE 9:44 AM)- Sens forward Kaspars Daugavins has filed for salary arbitration. Daugavins is a restricted free agent and hoping to land a one way contract through the arbitration process. The Latvian posted 11 points in 65 games with the Senators last season.
In the days and weeks leading up to July 1 and the start of free agency, there was plenty of talk surrounding the Ottawa Senators.
They were frontrunners in the Rick Nash sweepstakes. They were right in the mix when it came to landing NCAA star Justin Schultz. Yet here we sit on July 5 and the changes to the Senators roster have been fairly limited. And while you cannot completely judge an off season in early July, you have to think Bryan Murray and his staff are a little disappointed.
Murray can praise the youth movement and say he's happy with the current roster. Eugene Melnyk can rant about how all players should WANT to play in Ottawa. But the fact is, the Sens were vocal about wanting to make some significant additions this off season and so far, have come up short.
Now that’s not to say the additions they have made haven’t been good ones. Latendresse is a low risk option that if healthy, could be a useful player for Paul MacLean. Mike Lundin provides some depth to the back end. Marc Methot gives the Senators another top four defenceman and potentially a new partner for the defending Norris Trophy winner.
All safe moves that should help the team next year. Sure they lost the likes of Nick Foligno, Filip Kuba, Matt Carkner, and Zenon Konopka but there are plenty of players ready to fill those roles on the team.
Looking at the Senators current depth chart, there still appears to be a need for one more legitimate goal scoring threat. Someone who can slide in on Spezza’s wing and be counted on to score 20-30 goals. And that’s assuming the Captain is coming back for another season.
Jakob Silfverberg, Mika Zibanejad and Mark Stone are all hoping to grab spots in the top six but it might be unreasonable to expect them to fill that role this early in their development.
The good news is there are still some options out there. With Parise gone to the Wild, the belief is the NHL’s trade market will again heat up. The Senators will make some calls but there are going to be a number of teams looking to add. Alex Semin and Shane Doan are still available. Evander Kane’s name keeps coming up in Winnipeg. Bobby Ryan is unhappy in Anaheim. And Rick Nash is still looking for a new home.
Tim Murray was on the Team 1200 yesterday afternoon and made it clear the organization is willing to move a couple prospects if it means making the team better right now. From the start of June, the Senators have let it be known they are willing to move some quantity for quality.
Add to that the fact that the Senators still find themselves below the salary cap floor and it’s pretty clear, something’s gotta give.
So while Bryan and Tim Murray may say they are happy with the line up the way it is, you can bet they’ll be working the phones trying to add another piece before the season starts in…well I don’t really know when the season is going to start.
