NHL free agency is officially upon us, which means that each franchise has a newfound sense of optimism regarding roster improvements.
Each team is always theoretically just a few moves away from becoming a contender, and that goal is predicated on fielding a roster that optimizes talent with the limited resources available.
The NHL salary cap for the 2016-2017 season is $73 million. That’s a slight increase from the $71.4 million it was last season.
The cap floor is $54 million, meaning that each team has to make their payroll fall somewhere between $73 million and $54 million. It ensures that the players are properly compensated by the 30 franchises without upsetting the competitive balance of a team being able to throw money around more than another squad is capable of.
The Ottawa Senators currently have about $56.3 million committed to next season. They can choose not to make any roster alterations and still be able to meet the cap floor, but they also have about $16.7 million in cap space to bring in new players or re-sign current free agents.
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Coming into this offseason, the Senators had some key free agents. Long time player Chris Phillips retired. Patrick Wiercioch wasn’t given an offer sheet by the Senators, and signed with the Colorado Avalanche as an unrestricted free agent.
Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci are restricted free agents who have been given offer sheets by the Senators.
Alex Chiasson was due to be a restricted free agent, but was traded to the Calgary Flames for Patrick Sieloff, and Chaisson signed a one-year contract with them for $800,000.
Scott Gomez is an unrestricted free agent, and his future remains unknown. He only had 1 point in 13 games games last season after the Senators acquired him due to the Kyle Turris injury, and as Gomez turns 37 next year, he may decide that it’s time to hang up the skates.
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The Senators’ roster for next season will begin to look more clear in the upcoming days of this free agency frenzy.