Ottawa Senators Bid Farewell to Winger Parker Kelly

Ottawa Senators winger Parker Kelly just put together his best NHL season to date, posting career highs in almost every statistical category, including his eight goals and 18 points. He was excited to chip in more offensively and told us back in April that he credits a mindset change.

"I think just trying to stay consistent," said Kelly. "I think (2022-23) was a year where I maybe dwelled on things a little too long, like after a bad game, and it kind of snowballed. This year, I've (adopted) a 'whatever happens happens' mentality. The sun's always going to come up, and it's a new day."

However, his career-best wasn't enough for the restricted free agent to get a qualifying offer from the Senators, so Kelly will now head for July 1st as an unrestricted free agent. He only made a modest $775,000 last season, but he had arbitration rights and might have ended up with a number almost twice that this summer. 

Kelly just turned 25 and has been with the organization for a long time. After four years in Saskatchewan with the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders, Kelly went undrafted and signed with the Senators as a free agent in 2017. 

Through hard work and defence, Kelly eventually made his way to the NHL, finally becoming a bonafide full-timer in 2023-24, playing 80 games. His previous high was 55.

With Kelly and Boris Katchouk both not receiving qualifying offers, they join Dominik Kubalik in UFA. Mark Kastelic was traded for Linus Ullmark. So the Senators only have eight returning NHL forwards currently under contract. 

But tomorrow (free agent frenzy) is a new day.

_{This article was updated on June 30th at 7pm.}