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Ottawa Senators: Chris Tierney Has Been Pulling His Weight

By Hunter Eitel

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Chris Tierney #71 of the Ottawa Senators leaves the ice after warmup prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on February 2, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Chris Tierney #71 of the Ottawa Senators leaves the ice after warmup prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on February 2, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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In his first season with the Ottawa Senators, the 24-year old is an unsung hero.

In last night’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Chris Tierney recorded another assist for the Ottawa Senators.

That may not sound important, but you’d be surprised to learn that Tierney is only one behind Thomas Chabot for most assists on the Senators this season. The former second round pick (2012) is riding a four-game point streak and is now two points away from tying his career high of 40 points.

Making a mere $2.9 million, Tierney is already proving his worth to the Senators.

A Solid Season

Part of the return the Senators received in exchange for Erik Karlsson, Tierney has played in all 57 games this season, averaging 17:10 TOI per game, a new career high. Taking advantage of the added playing time, he now has six goals and 32 assists, almost reaching his 82 game point total from last season (40). At his current pace, he will finish the season with above 50 points. Given his contract, Tierney has been great value for the Senators.

What His Future Holds

The Senators are in a nice situation with Tierney’s contract. The 24-year old is making $2,937,500 for the rest of this season and he will still be under contract next season. If the Sens make some trades that deplete their center depth (Matt Duchene specifically), then Tierney could be a nice back-up option to fill the role. And if they want to trade him next year, plenty of teams around the league will be looking for a player with a contract like his. A 40-plus point player for under $3 million is exactly what teams are looking for in a playoff rental, and the Sens could reap a nice return for Tierney if it comes to that.

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A Nice Story

Even if Tierney only spends two seasons with the Ottawa Senators, his production is a nice storyline to keep track of. It’s a young player proving his worth in the NHL, and possibly setting himself up for a nice pay raise when his contract expires. If he can keep it up, Chris Tierney may be a name to watch during the 2020 trade deadline and free agency period.

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