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After taking the Penguins to 6 games, and coming close to upsetting the reigning champs, the Sens find themselves with an early exit yet again. We can be proud of what they did while I'm sure many will hang on the what if's.
This summer, Bryan Murray and the Sens organization face some "challenges".
With the injuries to Michalek and Kovalev in the playoffs, it gave way to the emergence of Peter "The Great". It might be a little too early to label him a bonafide top line player, but he certainly made it tough to argue. And pwerforward Zack Smith looks to have played himself into the line-up in an 11/12 role.
It's safe to say both Michalek and Kovalev will be back in the lineup, pretty much guaranteed, barring a trade of course. That would mean those spots would have to come from someone else's demise.
Here is what the Sens free agent situation looks like:
For the RFA's, the guys that surely will be back with the Sens big team next year are Regin, Foligno, Winchester and Campoli. And of those three, Regin, Foligno and Campoli will likely see raises around the $1-million mark. Winchester will probably get a small raise to the $700K-800K mark. Cody Bass had made this team on two separate occasions but lost his role to injuries. He was Bingo's best defensive forward. Ilya Zubov's been wanting out of Ottawa for a long time due to his displeasure from not making the team. Kinrade and Kudelka are AHLers and I can see Kinrade being there next year, but Kudelka might get more money playing in Europe.
As for the UFA's, two were brought in to help the team in the playoffs and each cost at least a 2nd round pick. You kind of hate to see rental players walk when you give up a 2nd round pick which could become anything. If sutton is not resigned, the Senators will likely allow a rookie defenceman to try to earn that spot, or use that money to go out and try to sign a big time free agent.
Anton Volchenkov, one of the most beloved Senator and a true heart and soul player, might finally see his tenure in Ottawa come to an end, but at his own doing, by pricing himself out. As much as he is loved, he is not worth $4M, let alone even $3-3.5-million.
Matt Cullen I'd rather not get into - he's not young, he very well might want as much as or more than he is making, which scares me, and his spot could go to Zack Smith or someone else.
Sean Donovan looks like he is done in Ottawa and maybe done in the NHL. Injuries have caught up to him, and other than a 13th or greater forward, he's got no spot on the team.
Mike Brodeur played very well for Ottawa on an emergency basis and is probably the most likely to be re-signed between him and Chiodo, with Robin Lehner as the other goalie in Bingo.
Derek Smith is 25 and at this point probably wants to see what he can do. He's played really well for Binghamton and might want to explore other options.
Drew Bannister and Jeremy Yablonski are pluggers. Yablonski is a pure enforcer and there are probably better players that can do what he does.
Hennessy, also 25, has not shown he can be an NHL player, at least not in Ottawa, and he might want to see if he can get a n NHL job elsewhere.
Ryan Keller, team leader in goals (34) and Martin St. Pierre, team leader in assists and points (47 & 71), might also look to use their success in the AHL to earn a job elsewhere, but would be great to have back in the AHL.
This summer, Bryan Murray and the Sens organization face some "challenges".
With the injuries to Michalek and Kovalev in the playoffs, it gave way to the emergence of Peter "The Great". It might be a little too early to label him a bonafide top line player, but he certainly made it tough to argue. And pwerforward Zack Smith looks to have played himself into the line-up in an 11/12 role.
It's safe to say both Michalek and Kovalev will be back in the lineup, pretty much guaranteed, barring a trade of course. That would mean those spots would have to come from someone else's demise.
Here is what the Sens free agent situation looks like:
For the RFA's, the guys that surely will be back with the Sens big team next year are Regin, Foligno, Winchester and Campoli. And of those three, Regin, Foligno and Campoli will likely see raises around the $1-million mark. Winchester will probably get a small raise to the $700K-800K mark. Cody Bass had made this team on two separate occasions but lost his role to injuries. He was Bingo's best defensive forward. Ilya Zubov's been wanting out of Ottawa for a long time due to his displeasure from not making the team. Kinrade and Kudelka are AHLers and I can see Kinrade being there next year, but Kudelka might get more money playing in Europe.
As for the UFA's, two were brought in to help the team in the playoffs and each cost at least a 2nd round pick. You kind of hate to see rental players walk when you give up a 2nd round pick which could become anything. If sutton is not resigned, the Senators will likely allow a rookie defenceman to try to earn that spot, or use that money to go out and try to sign a big time free agent.
Anton Volchenkov, one of the most beloved Senator and a true heart and soul player, might finally see his tenure in Ottawa come to an end, but at his own doing, by pricing himself out. As much as he is loved, he is not worth $4M, let alone even $3-3.5-million.
Matt Cullen I'd rather not get into - he's not young, he very well might want as much as or more than he is making, which scares me, and his spot could go to Zack Smith or someone else.
Sean Donovan looks like he is done in Ottawa and maybe done in the NHL. Injuries have caught up to him, and other than a 13th or greater forward, he's got no spot on the team.
Mike Brodeur played very well for Ottawa on an emergency basis and is probably the most likely to be re-signed between him and Chiodo, with Robin Lehner as the other goalie in Bingo.
Derek Smith is 25 and at this point probably wants to see what he can do. He's played really well for Binghamton and might want to explore other options.
Drew Bannister and Jeremy Yablonski are pluggers. Yablonski is a pure enforcer and there are probably better players that can do what he does.
Hennessy, also 25, has not shown he can be an NHL player, at least not in Ottawa, and he might want to see if he can get a n NHL job elsewhere.
Ryan Keller, team leader in goals (34) and Martin St. Pierre, team leader in assists and points (47 & 71), might also look to use their success in the AHL to earn a job elsewhere, but would be great to have back in the AHL.
