With the NHL trade deadline in the rearview, the Ottawa Senators will now use the rest of the schedule to audition for roles moving forward into next year. With Craig Anderson and Marek Svatos as UFA's to be, both will be playing for spots on the roster next season.
The Sens also have a handful of restricted free agents that the club will need to make decisions on moving forward. The red-hot Bobby Butler, Colin Greening, and Erik Condra will all need new contracts heading into next season.
For the Sens and their staff, the focus now shifts to the draft, scheduled for June 24-25.
It's not a certainty at this point but it does appear as though the Sens will be on a lottery position on draft day. Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sean Couturier are all candidates to be selected when the Sens step up to microphone in Minnesota. Adam Larsson is considered to be the best player available by most but you would have to think the organization will be targeting a forward with that early selection.
Ryan Strome is a player that has been moving quickly up many team's lists and the Sens are no different. I've been told that some scouts have him ranked as high as #2.
The Senators also hold Nashville's first round pick.
