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After taking a look at the Sens UFA's in my last blog, I thought we would take a look at the Sens RFA's. Here is a list of the Sens RFA's come the end of the season. Who will the Sens qualify or walk away from? Who will get a bridge deal or long term contract extension? Let's take a closer look at each player.
Josh Norris - Before he got injured he had 18 goals in 36 games. Naturally, there has to be concern about his shoulder injuries going back to his college days. If Dorion could sign Norris to a similar contract to that of Drake Batherson, it would be a nice deal for both sides. I wouldn't want to go past a 6 year deal(6 years/30 million). He's making 925k in the final year of entry level deal.
Alex Formenton - He's the most intriguing name with a nice breakout season to date in 49 games(11G/11A) and I can't imagine Dorion giving Formenton anything other than a 3-year bridge deal. This will be a show me you can continue to progress contract before possibly getting a longer-term deal down the road. He was making 747,500 in the final year of his entry level contract this season.
Dylan Gambrell - There's no way Ottawa qualifies him in the summer at his current salary of 1.1 million. The Sens have their 4th line in place for next season with Kelly/Kastelic/Watson, so why would you hang onto him after the deadline, especially if you could get something in return for him. The Sens don't need him walking in the summer because there's no way they'll qualify him, similar to what happened last summer with Mike Amadio and he was making less money than Gambrell. He hasn't produced and his faceoff numbers have dropped off quite a lot over the last half dozen games.
Plus I'm sure Ottawa will qualify Adam Gaudette this summer, therefore having no room for a guy making over a million dollars to be on the 4th line as they're already paying Watson 1.5 million per season. Clark Bishop makes far less and can do the same job as Gambrell. Trade Gambrell or waive him by the deadline, 35 games(1G/3A) and averaging less than 12 min. TOI.
Adam Gaudette - He disappears some nights then gets ice time on the number one line, Gaudette is truly an enigma on this team. He was a healthy scratch for a dozen games when he was first claimed off waivers and currently makes close to one million on his current contract, 24 games(4G/7A) in a Sens uniform. If Nick Paul is re-signed, I'm not sure Dorion will qualify him as the 3rd line would be set for next with Paul/Pinto/CBrown. Do you bring Gaudette back or Tyler Ennis back to be that 13th forward? Ennis - 47 games(6G/14A). The fact that Gaudette can't even crack the lineup tonight with Tierney out due to injury says a lot. DJ Smith is keeping Parker Kelly in the lineup over Gaudette when just last week he was playing on the number one line, go figure!
Erik Brannstrom - It's clear the coaching staff aren't big on him and with the logjam that will occur on the blueline come next year, I truly believe Pierre Dorion will trade him by the NHL draft. When you hear the coaching staff raving about Max Guenette and Jonathan Aspirot in the AHL, plus Dillon Heatherington is a UFA that the Sens could bring back, I just don't see any scenario that Brannstrom is in the starting lineup for Ottawa come next season. Let the trade talk begin! Could Dorion package Brannstrom with a Nick Paul or Anton Forsberg to get a decent return?!
Victor Mete - I wonder if Mete could get moved at the deadline as there's no way Ottawa will qualify him at 1.2 million. In 31 games this season he's a -15 and has no goals! He can't box out in front of his net and each game you see him suit up it makes you wonder why Dorion gave him a qualifying offer, much like wasting money on MDZ. Between those 2 players, that's over 3 million that could've been allocated at the forward position. It's truly amazing how much this hockey club spends on fringe NHL players and you can include Josh Brown in that conversation too. Or Tierney making 3.5 million to get you 15pts. in 51 games and under 13 minutes TOI.
The one wild card in all of the RFA and UFA talk with Ottawa is Michael Del Zotto who has played extremely well down in Belleville, putting up 9G/12A in 20 games. I truly wonder if a team might take a shot at acquiring him to help their back end in having a puck moving defenseman. The one team that I've heard who might have an interest is the LA Kings who lack a lot of experience on the blueline after their top 3 defensemen. If Ottawa were to eat a bit of salary it would get them out from under the final year of his deal. Now if Ottawa could somehow get Gabe Vilardi involved in a deal who has been buried in the minors that would be a nice coup by Dorion. Vilardi is a young center who will be an RFA at season's end and has put up great numbers in the AHL since being sent down, plus he's from Kingston and trains in Ottawa in the off-season. I know Ottawa has inquired about Vilardi on two occasions this season. This is definitely something to keep an eye on!
The Washington Capitals have called the Sens inquiring about Anton Forsberg. They have also called the Stars regarding Brayden Holtby. Should Ottawa trade Forsberg if they can get a 2nd round pick?
Thoughts on who Ottawa should qualify, extend or walk away from this summer?! I look forward to hearing from Sens fans as the deadline approaches.
Thanks for reading.
Kevin