Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios has had an extremely busy week. Are his roster renovations done? Is this a playoff team?
Free agent frenzy delivered huge numbers on day one with 64 signings worth nearly $750 million. Day two wasn’t as prolific around the league, but it was a big day for the Ottawa Senators.
GM Steve Staios continues to make his mark on the team with seven outgoing players from last year’s roster.
The team will start next season with two 36-year-old wingers in their top six. Free agent David Perron was signed for two years with an AAV of $4 million to join forces with Claude Giroux next season. Perron's value will be felt as much in the room as on the ice as Staios wanted more veteran leadership to insulate his young core.
Jacob Chychrun (trade), Mathieu Joseph (trade), Erik Brannstrom (no q-offer) and Parker Kelly (no q-offer) joined Dominik Kubalik, Joonas Korpisalo and Mark Kastelic on the list of dearly departed, freeing up cap space and leaving the Senators with more right-handed defencemen than left with the addition of Nick Jensen.
Kelly and Brannstrom would have likely led to arbitration hearings where the awards would not have been worth accepting and the assets would have walked in August rather than end of June.
In truth, neither of those players represented a path forward to winning in Ottawa.
While they were both immediately acquired by the Colorado Avalanche, the Senators poached Noah Gregor, who was not qualified by the Toronto Maple Leafs, on a one-year contract.
Finally, the Shane Pinto elephant has left the room and Sens fans can breathe a sigh of relief that the 23-year-old truly isn’t going anywhere for at least two years.
Based on the depth chart below, is Staios done? Is this what fans can expect come opening night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers?
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
David Perron - Josh Norris* - Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig - Shane Pinto - Zack Ostapchuk/Roby Jarventie
Noah Gregor - Michael Amadio - Zack MacEwen
Angus Crookshank - Stephen Halliday - Ostapchuk/Roby Jarventie
Defence
Chabot - Zub
Sanderson - Jensen
Kleven - JBD
Guenette - Hamonic
Goalies
Ullmark/Forsberg
Sogaard/Merilainen
*Injured reserve
Thanks to the Senators retaining $1 million of Korpisalo’s cap hit, they are left with roughly $2.68 million in cap space, assuming Josh Norris and Tyler Kleven are there opening night. This would also give the Senators 11 forwards and seven defensemen along with their two netminders.
This leaves an extra roster spot to be filled just to get to 12 with the departure of Mathieu Joseph and, ideally, you would want an extra forward on the roster while being cap compliant.
The only question is whether Staios intends to look to his 31st ranked NHL prospect pool for both openings or bring in at least one more player from free agency or via trade?
All indications are that Norris will be ready for training camp. This could mean that Caprobatics, as we like to call it, could also become the order of the day as the salary of Zack MacEwen can be waived to the minors to become cap compliant, as happened last season. With two years remaining on his deal at $775K, MacEwen becomes an unofficial risk-free waiver exemption that can backfill for injuries.
Senators owner Michael Andlauer won’t enjoy paying him that kind of scratch to play in the AHL. He probably didn’t like it last year either, but it was a means to an end. If it allows for a better player to be brought in, that could solidify the opening left by Mathieu Joseph. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Barring a trade, it would be difficult to get two players of value onto your roster for $2.68 million.
A path seems to have been cleared for Tyler Kleven to ascend to the parent club after a very successful season in Belleville. He seems to fit the mould of defenseman that Staios wants in his bottom pair, one who can box out and keep players honest if they have their heads down.
Perron would appear to be the answer to replacing Vladimir Tarasenko’s production in the top six. While his numbers aren’t quite as good offensively, he brings leadership and was an integral part of the St. Louis Blues run to the cup in 2019.
Mike Amadio seems like an upgrade over Mark Kastelic. He has come a long way since his five-game audition in 2021.
If above is the opening day roster, I am in wait and see mode.
Clearly, there was an upgrade in net.
The defence core has better balance in every way.
The forward group, with the additions of Perron and Amadio, has more veteran depth and experience to provide a winning influence on a group that has done very little of that in recent years.
A healthy Josh Norris would give the Senators an embarrassment of riches down the middle with not enough chairs when the music stops.
Joseph must be replaced. If salvation lies within, there is cap space to make it happen. If not, Staios still has work to do.
Perhaps Staios has more up his sleeve. As of now, he has a roster that can compete for a playoff spot, but it's no sure thing.