The Ottawa Senators have already made plenty of waves this offseason. The blockbuster trades have helped reshape the team’s roster for next season.
Yes, there are holes to fill as the club looks to round out the roster. Fortunately, those holes won’t be the sort of thing that needs urgent attention.
The open spots in the Senators' lineup don’t require GM Steve Staios to push the button. Staios can take a deep breath and let the carnage of Day 1 of NHL free agency unfold in front of him.
The risk here is that some teams will panic and push the button. When they do, they risk overpaying for players they might not have otherwise signed.
That’s why the Senators might stay quiet on the opening day of NHL free agency. And that’s a good thing. There’s no reason for Ottawa to rush out and overpay for mid-tier free agents. Fans should be happy if Staios stays away from making reactionary moves. We’re talking about giving multi-year deals to bottom-six or third-pairing guys. Those are the sorts of deals that age badly and lead to crippling cap crunch situations.
What would a successful first day of NHL free agency look like?
It’s impossible to predict who the Senators will sign without being privy to inside negotiations. But judging from what’s out there, a successful first day of NHL free agency should involve foregoing questionable signings.
If the Senators can stay away from overpaying in a thin free-agent market, the club will be better off for it.
Since Ottawa doesn’t need to fill any major lineup spots, the club can get away with waiting for the initial frenzy to settle. Once the first wave of signings and likely overpays subsides, the remaining UFAs on the market would allow the organization to find value contracts.
Anyone following my writing will know that I constantly talk about finding value. These are the contracts that deliver value to the player and the team, without throwing a spanner into the works.
As for who those value contracts could be, that’s a different conversation. It’s clear that not all players are good additions to every team.
So, we shall see what unfolds on Wednesday. The market officially opens with teams looking to scoop up the best players they can. Yes, there will be a couple of major signings to keep an eye on. But beyond that, it will be the secondary wave that could separate the contenders from the pretenders.
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