One of the major items on Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios’ docket this offseason is figuring out a new contract for veteran Claude Giroux.
The 38-year-old indicated that he plans to return next season. Working under that assumption, the Sens need to hammer out a new contract, whatever that may be.
According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, that discussion could happen this week. In a June 3 piece, Garrioch pointed out that Staios will meet with Giroux’s agent at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo.
“The expectation is that (Pat) Brisson and Staios will sit down this week at the Combine to discuss a new deal for Giroux.”
As for what the contract could look like, that’s another story. What we do know is that Brisson confirmed Giroux will be back for one more season, at least. That situation bodes well as the former first-round pick from the 2006 NHL Draft is still very much a productive player.
This season, Giroux scored 14 goals and 49 points in 82 games. While his overall production has trended downward with age, there’s little doubt Giroux can deliver decent depth scoring.
Garrioch believes that Giroux could come back on a deal similar to the one he signed ahead of this season. So, another one-year, incentive-laden deal could be on the horizon for the Senators’ veteran leader.
Senators still uncertain about Reimer
Another veteran UFA potentially hitting the market is James Reimer. The Senators brought Reimer in last season amid a desperate need for a solid backup. Reimer, who is also 38, is unsure about his future, Garrioch noted.
If he does return next season, the Sens could certainly use him in the backup role. However, some questions may emerge about Reimer’s ability to start around 30 games next season.
There’s no question, however, that the Senators need stability in the crease. And beyond Linus Ullmark, there isn’t much of that at the moment.
If Reimer doesn’t return to the Nation’s Capital, the organization will need to look to other UFA goalies out there. Garrioch noted that Connor Ingram could be an option for the Senators. But there might be other UFA goalies like Danil Tarasov and Stuart Skinner who may also offer some stability next season.
The next couple of weeks should prove crucial as the team looks to chart out the path forward. Just about every team in the deal will be looking to move the ball down the field ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
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