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The Ottawa Senators should consider European free agents

By James Reeve

OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 20: Exterior view of Scotiabank Place during daylight, with the team logo in the foreground, prior of start of an NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Winnipeg Jets, on October 20, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 20: Exterior view of Scotiabank Place during daylight, with the team logo in the foreground, prior of start of an NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Winnipeg Jets, on October 20, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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The Ottawa Senators have entered a rebuilding phase and the European free agent market could be a good way to help the team through this period.

While the Ottawa Senators have a number of top young prospects in their system, adding some experienced free agents could help provide some depth and plug holes while the team lets their prospects season in the minors.

A number of teams around the NHL have begun to snap up promising free agents from a number of leagues across Europe, including the Finnish Liiga, SHL in Sweden and the KHL.

So far, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has made no such moves – but should seriously consider making some before the best players available are taken.

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While playing well in those leagues isn’t a surefire guarantee of success in the NHL, a number of players that have made the jump have become reliable regulars, even in bottom six forward or bottom pairing defensive roles.

Players such as Oliwer Kaski are reportedly garnering interest from NHL teams, with the 23-year-old offering plenty as a point-producing defenceman.

This past season, Kaski, who is a 6-foot-3, 187lbs right-handed blueliner, registered an impressive 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) in just 59 regular season games – the most by any defenceman in the league.

On paper, his talent is clear to see and it appears that he is interested in a move to the NHL, with the Detroit Red Wings rumoured to be in on him.

Kaski is also just one player that is said to be available this summer, with the Ottawa Senators having a range of leagues to scour through to find players capable of contributing at the NHL level.

If the Senators opt to forego looking at free agents from other leagues, it could see them left behind and take a step backwards in their rebuild, when adding a player in their early 20s that is capable of playing from the get-go would help move things along.

With players signing for teams in the NHL fairly rapidly, with arch-rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs signing two players in two days, the Ottawa Senators may want to consider their position on this and make some moves if they feel it can truly benefit them in the long-run.

Next. Senators should consider Jake Gardiner. dark

What do you think Sens fans? Should the organisation take a look at some of the free agents coming out of Europe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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