With Exactly Five Months Left On Their Contracts, What Will the Ottawa Senators Do With Their Unrestricted Free Agents?

The Ottawa Senators have certainly taken a big step forward this season. It’s nice for Sens fans to look at the standings on February 1st and see them in third place in the division, breathing down the necks of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

This is a position that neither the fans nor the players on the roster have found themselves in since the first calendar year of Donald Trump’s first presidency.

It’s been a total team effort up and down the lineup. And when injuries have occurred, young players from Belleville have steadied the ship, including a young rookie goalie who has captured the attention of the league with stellar play

But many of the players in this group are not signed for next season.

Which of these pieces has a future in Ottawa, and which won’t be back? A few of these players likely won’t make it past the trade deadline if the Senators remain in position to be buyers, so we’re going to work on the assumption that Ottawa is still in a playoff spot at the deadline, and no other roster moves are made.

Of course, anyone can be traded, and circumstances can change, but the Senators have shown a good amount of stability this season, and will likely sail ahead with what’s been working in most cases.

Today, we look at the unrestricted free agents.

UFA Forwards:

Nick Cousins

Cousins has been a good fit as an energy player who can chip in some limited offence. A Cup winner last year with Florida and playing on a league minimum contract, the 31-year-old’s value comes from distracting the other team and opening up space for his linemates. The team likely accepts some poorly timed penalties as part of the package.

Assuming Cousins fully recovers from knee surgery, and he’ll have roughly 10 games to prove that at the end of the year, there’s a good chance he returns.

In play at the trade deadline? No

Likelihood he stays: 75%

Predicted contract: 2 years, $1.5 million per.

Matthew Highmore

The prototypical tweener with nearly 200 games of NHL experience at age 28. Knows his role and has filled in admirably in the bottom six. Replaceable but useful.

In play at the trade deadline? Yes

Likelihood he stays: 50%

Predicted contract: 2 way league minimum deal.

Cole Reinhardt

As a 2020 NHL Draft pick, you might not expect to see Reinhardt on the UFA list. But because he’ll be 25+ when this contract ends (he’s 25 today), and because he’s played less than 80 career NHL games, he qualifies as a Group 6 UFA.

Reinhardt is another bottom-six tweener between the NHL and AHL, but four years younger than Highmore with a higher ceiling. The team will likely keep him around for depth for a few more years and see what they have, but could be an attractive piece to a rebuilding squad as part of a package to bring in support at the deadline.

In play at the trade deadline? Yes

Likelihood he stays: 75%

Predicted contract: 2 way league minimum deal.

Claude Giroux

Giroux is the club’s biggest pending UFA by far. He has visibly slowed down in the final year of his 3 year, $19.5 million contract, but remains an invaluable piece in terms of secondary offense, leadership, community stature, and as Tim Stutzle’s regular winger.

His Corsi is on the positive side of the ledger and his Goals For Percentage (58.30) is actually the best it has been in his three seasons as a Senator. He’s still a marketable star and well loved by the fanbase. It’s up to him if he wants to stay or not, and he’s not going anywhere at the deadline if Ottawa is in or near a playoff spot.

The vibes seem to point to him sticking around, likely on a series of one year deals at a bit lower of a cap hit. Giroux also seems the type who will value winning and family over another big contract at this stage of his career, especially with career earnings of around $100 million, but no Stanley Cup on the resume. The ball is entirely in his court.

In play at the trade deadline? No, not unless Ottawa tumbles out of the race.

Likelihood he stays: 80%

Predicted contract: 1 year, $4.5-$5.5 million.

UFA Defensemen

Travis Hamonic

The Ottawa fan base’s favourite whipping boy has actually played okay when called upon this season. He’s clearly on the 18th hole of his career, and has had issues with injuries and lack of mobility. It’s unlikely he’ll return as a player, but more than possible that he returns to the organization in an off-ice role, perhaps in player development. The team cherishes his experience and leadership.

In play the trade deadline?: No, his full no-movement clause prevents it.

LIkelihood he stays: 5% as a player, 75% as an organizational employee.

Predicted contract: None

Goalies

Anton Forsberg

Forsberg is a likeable but frustrating player to watch, because you never know what you’re going to get from game to game. Maybe he’ll stop 20 shots in the first period on the way to a shutout and give the team a chance to win, or maybe he’ll let in 4 goals on 12 shots and waste a good performance from the team in front of him.

Forsberg is on one of his good runs right now and because of Linus Ullmark’s injury issues, he’ll still be a valuable insurance policy for the rest of this season. But at the moment, Leevi Merilainen looks more than ready to take Forsberg’s spot next season at a quarter of the price.

Likelihood he stays: 0%

Predicted contract: League minimum for a backup role on another team.