Ottawa Senators expected to qualify these restricted free agents
The Ottawa Senators have a number of restricted free agents this summer and reports suggest the team is working on retaining the majority of them.
According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has indicated that qualifying offers will be given to a number of RFAs.
The most notable players mentioned in the report include defenceman Cody Ceci and forward Anthony Duclair and Colin White.
All three are viewed as important pieces by the Senators organisation and Dorion has reportedly been in talks with the representatives of all three – hoping to lock them down for the longer-term.
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Per CapFriendly, Ceci, who played out a one-year contract worth $4.3 million last season, would earn the same amount if he signed the Sens’ qualifying offer.
Duclair and White, meanwhile, would earn 110% and 105% of last season’s contracts, earning them $715,000 and $874,125 respectively, though it is expected that White will earn a long-term deal earning him in the millions.
The qualifying offers helps give the Senators more time to secure bigger deals for their biggest free agents, with Marcus Hogberg and Christian Wolanin also reportedly in talks about extensions – though no qualifying offers have come forward yet for them.
Other players seemingly on the fringe of the Senators’ NHL roster, or some that might have a chance at making it in the future, are also expected to receive qualifying offers from the club.
Nick Paul ($715,000 at 110%), Jack Rodewald ($715,000 at 110%) and Andreas Englund ($735,000 at 105%) are all expected to receive qualifying offers from the Senators, likely seeing them start with the Belleville Senators at the beginning of the season.
With plenty of spots vacant on the Ottawa Senators roster, the organisation is making a sensible decision to hand out qualifying offers while working to lock up the more significant free agents.
Ceci is one player that certainly splits the fanbase and the contract he signs with the Senators will come under scrutiny if it is much higher than the $4.3 million he earned last year and would earn this year if he signed the qualifying offer.
Duclair and White, however, will be positive signings for the organisation and will help to give new head coach D.J. Smith some offensive veterans capable of scoring goals in a time where the team isn’t expected to score many.
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What do you think Sens fans? Are you pleased with the players receiving qualifying offers? Which of the players must the team lock down long-term and who would you prefer they walk away from? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!