With the July 1st deadline now looming, not one of Ottawa's nine UFAs are a lock to return.
The Ottawa Senators currently have nine players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents and all of them have appeared with the Sens in the last year or two. With free agency about to open on Canada Day, it's fair to wonder if any of these players will be re-signing here.
The Sens have already announced that veterans Cam Talbot and Nick Holden will not be re-signed, so they can br struck from the list. And while Patrick Brown, Jake Lucchini, Rourke Chartier and Scott Sabourin can be nice organizational depth pieces, they're certainly not crucial signings for the team or fan base.
The fate of the remaining three UFAs on the list is far more intriguing. The Sens have a week and a half left to make decisions on them or risk losing them to free agency.
Travis Hamonic
Despite playing through all kinds of injuries, including a cracked Adam's apple, Hamonic had a turnaround season in Ottawa. Rookie Jake Sanderson gave the veteran defenceman all kinds of credit for his mentorship, on and off the ice.
Hamonic probably gave his agent fits at season's end, completely tipping his hand, and telling everyone how much he loved Ottawa, the team and how he wanted to be here next season.
The feeling is mutual, at least for next season. But the price and term have to make sense for the club, especially now that he slots in – when everyone's healthy – as a bottom-pairing defenceman. It's believed Hamonic favours at least a two year deal.
Prediction: Given how much he likes it here, Hamonic reluctantly agrees to a one year deal, comparable to last year's salary.
Austin Watson
Watson's calling card is leadership, toughness and his bull-in-a-china shop style of play. Basically, he's Brady Tkachuk without the all-star level offence and skill. But with nine goals, Watson was actually Ottawa's ninth best goal scorer last season. As with Hamonic, the Sens would like to do a one year, while Watson would like to go two or more.
Prediction: Watson has been an NHL regular for a long time so it's a good bet that some team is waiting to offer a deal the Sens will not.
Derick Brassard
Brassard was a pleasant surprise last season, finishing ninth in points and seventh in goal scoring. Not bad for a guy who returned to the Sens on a professional tryout.
Brassard would like to play again but, in his case, there's no danger in losing him to free agency. His NHL future now is almost certainly Ottawa or bust.
Complicating things is the brutal leg injury he suffered as the end of last season. By the time it's healed and rehabbed, Brassard will have missed a lot of training time. A long shutdown like that isn't ideal for a player who had already lost a step and will be 36 by the time he's physically ready for an NHL comeback – if he ever is.
Prediction: Retirement. And perhaps a job in the organization for the affable, well-respected Gatineau native.