The Ottawa Senators are still in the market for an upgrade at forward following the more-than-likely departure of veteran forward Claude Giroux. The market was hot at the beginning of Free Agent Frenzy yesterday, with deals being confirmed throughout the day. Many of the available free agents found their way onto new teams with hefty pay raises.
The Senators' sole NHL signing yesterday was goaltender Samuel Ersson, who signed a two-year contract worth $2.2 million AAV. General Manager Steve Staios said at the press conference after trading Brady Tkachuk that the team will not take a step back. Of the free agents still available, who could the Senators potentially add?
Claude Giroux
As mentioned above, Giroux has not re-signed with the Senators, but no other team has signed him either. The 38-year-old forward has a deep understanding of the Senators and what it takes to reach the next level. His leadership, defensive reliability, and offensive upside would leave the Senators with a sizable hole in their depth chart if he departs.
However, Giroux may simply be gauging the market to determine what other teams believe he is worth before bringing that number back to Ottawa. The door isn't completely closed, and Giroux would certainly be welcomed back. A contract worth around $4 million annually seems reasonable.
Anthony Mantha
There definitely feels like there's a good reason Mantha is still available on the open market after a career-high 33-goal, 64-point season. It seems likely that Mantha is trying to cash in on the rising salary cap following such a strong year. His contract demands could be around $7 million annually, which wouldn't be an unreasonable ask if he weren't on the wrong side of 30 and notoriously inconsistent.
To his credit, though, he still produced those impressive numbers. If the Senators believe he can replicate that production, he'd be a fast, big, and highly skilled winger who would look great alongside Tim Stützle. If Ottawa could sign him for $6 million or less, it's a deal worth considering.
Eeli Tolvanen
Tolvanen is an interesting player, as he's gone from one mediocre situation to another. His offensive production with the Seattle Kraken was much better than it was during his time with the Nashville Predators, but his career high remains just 41 points.
He's still only 27 years old, and moving from Seattle to Ottawa would provide a significant upgrade in offensive talent around him. It may be a stretch to project him as a top-six forward, but Travis Green is a coach who preaches opportunity. If Tolvanen can seize that opportunity, he'll be given every chance to succeed. If Ottawa were to pursue him, a contract in the neighbourhood of $4 million annually seems likely.
Michael Bunting
The former Toronto Maple Leaf hasn't been able to replicate either his 63-point season or even his 49-point campaign since leaving Toronto. The 30-year-old split time between the Dallas Stars and Nashville this season, producing 33 points.
He brings valuable secondary scoring while also having shown he can contribute near the top of the lineup when placed in the right situation. Since he didn't quite live up to his previous $4.5 million contract, the expectation would be that he signs for a similar cap hit or perhaps slightly less despite the rising salary cap.
Patrick Laine
This is the low-risk, high-reward move that Steve Staios should be all over. Laine has endured a difficult stretch since the 2022-23 season, playing fewer than a full season's worth of games over the past four years. Despite that, Laine remains one of the league's premier shooters. He simply needs to be insulated by defensively responsible players and play in a positive environment. With Tkachuk gone, there appear to be fewer distractions heading into this season, and the team seems more cohesive, with a close-knit locker room.
A contract featuring a low base salary with performance bonuses could motivate Laine to produce, earning himself a bigger payday while also helping him rediscover his love for the game. It isn't a perfect solution, but given the limited risk involved, it's certainly an option worth exploring.
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