Bryan Murray should remain relatively quiet on July 1 and instead focus on re-signing his key forwards on expiring deals.
The Ottawa Senators general manager got to work quickly this off-season, extending Mark Stone, Mika Zibanejad and Andrew Hammond. On draft weekend, he dealt away Robin Lehner and David Legwand to Buffalo and Eric Gryba to Edmonton.
“I’m always looking [for another forward]. It’s just a matter of [the fact] I’ve got to sign my own guys first,” Murray told the Ottawa Sun Saturday. “If we had decided to move one of those restricted guys, it would have been different, but we didn’t.
“We like what we are. We’ve moved a fair number of dollars out so it probably opens the door for one more move later on if we find it.”
So attention will be poured into locking up RFA wingers Mike Hoffman, 25, and Alex Chiasson, 24. (Murray is also trying to trade away forward Colin Greening.)
That said, if Ottawa does kick tires on the available UFAs, it should be in effort to land another forward. Here are a few that make sense.
Erik Condra, RW
The Senators are still reportedly trying to find common ground with their lone UFA-to-be. According to the Sun, the 28-year-old Condra is looking for a three-year commitment and has received calls from a number of opponents. The depth forward was paid $1.3 million last season and scored a career-high nine goals.
Brad Boyes, RW
Ottawa’s shootout winning percentage last season was .462. Maybe Brad Boyes, an expert in the skills show, pushes them above .500.
The veteran forward, bought out by Florida, could assist in what should be another tight Eastern Conference playoff race and add a veteran voice to a young room. Plus, he can be snapped up for an Ottawa-friendly price. (And, yes, as long as the shootout gets you a bonus point, I think Boyes should be a consideration for every team.)
Shawn Matthias, LW/C
The 27-year-old quietly had himself a stellar season in Vancouver, a team too tight on cap space to keep him.
Matthias’s career-high 18 goals ranked third among all Canucks, a mark he reached playing bottom-six minutes and without the benefit of power-play looks. Plus, he stays out of the penalty box.
He’ll make more than the $1.75 million he pulled in last season, but will had for a reasonable rate compared to, say, Matt Beleskey.
Joel Ward, RW
Now that Ottawa is a playoff team again, it could use a hard-nosed, ugly-goal guy like Joel Ward, who shines in the postseason.
The winger, previously on a $3 million cap hit, will be looking for a raise and it is expected a few teams will be bidding for his services. Perhaps the Toronto native would welcome a move closer to home. Certainly Ward’s try-hard ethos aligns with the Sens’ never-say-die attitude.
Daniel Winnik, LW/C
A splendid possession player who can move throughout the lineup, Winnik is a Swiss Army knife who can deliver in a variety of situations and roles.
Not long for Pittsburgh, Winnik is coming off a great season personally. He scored a career-high 34 points and finished 16th in the NHL with a plus-23 rating.
