The Ottawa Senators took care of a little business yesterday, signing winger Matt Puempel to a 1 year, 2 way contract worth $900,000 ($75,000 in the AHL).
While the big dogs (Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci) still await a resolution to their own contract situations, the Senators seem to be going about business a little differently these days.
A few years ago the Senators handcuffed themselves by handing out one-way deals too early and too often, making training camp battles pretty much a moot point. As of right now, assuming Hoffman does sign and is not dealt, the Senators will have only 10 forwards on 1 way deals.
The top 6 looks pretty set, barring a shakeup - Stone, Turris, Hoffman, Ryan, Zibanejad and MacArhur. In the bottom 6, Pageau, Smith, Neil and Kelly are the only ones "guaranteed" a spot.
That leaves 3 or 4 spots open, depending on how many players they want to carry. Competiton for those spots will be open, with a bunch of contenders that are on recently signed 2 way deals vying to keep their NHL bucks.
Obviously Curtis Lazar has the inside track on one of those spots, but he is still waivers exempt and the possibility exists that he could be finally sent to Binghamton for the seasoning that he should have gotten last year. While Dorion has apparently said he would be open to the move, I think that ship has sailed and at this point, with 2 full seasons in the NHL, it would be counter-productive to do that now. After the first season where the Senators didn't have many options, it is one thing, but after a second season demoting him might be the best thing for his development, but not necessarily for his psyche.
For the last couple of spots, the likes of Nick Paul, Max McCormick, Ryan Dzingel, Buddy Robinson, Puempel, Tom Pyatt and Michael Blunden will all get a look, and although he probably needs at least another year in junior, the door is open for Logan Brown to get an audition if he impresses in camp.
I know it would be a lot better if the club was deeper and the competition was for the top 6 forward spots, but at least, unlike some previous seasons, there will be some type of battle for spots because there are so many 2 way contracts.