If You reBuild It They Will Come

Team: 2019-20 Ottawa Senators

Initial Creation Date: May 21, 2019

Published: May 24, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

From game 7 of the ECF in 2017, being one OT goal away from a Stanley Cup Final appearance, to being a tire fire of an organization that just traded away a top 5 draft pick for a #1 center that's no longer lacing up his skates for the team, the Senators sure have fallen a long way. The good news for fans is that they took a step in the right direction last season shipping out anyone they could at the deadline for draft selections. It's going to be a rough couple years to be a Sens fan, but before long the team should be challenging for the playoffs (ideally in a new building downtown with a new owner).

This off season, the Sens have to add payroll just to get the the salary floor and have some young players coming up that will be given a lot of ice time in what is sure to be a learning year. They will look to move pending UFA's at the deadline and could use their cap space to take on salary other teams want to move in exchange for picks/prospects.

RFA's
Ceci - Wants out, so I think the Sens look to move his rights for a good pick or re-sign him on a 1 year deal and try to do the same at the deadline.
Duclair - Performed well for the Sens earning himself a two year deal at $2M. Is young enough that he could be kept as a part of the rebuilt team, or exposed as a RFA in the 2021 expansion draft.
White - Elects for a two year bridge deal at $2.35M looking to cash in next renewal playing big minutes for this rebuilding team. Gives Sens flexibility to re-sign and protect or expose as RFA in the 2021 expansion draft.
Hogberg - Was good in the AHL last year and likely gets promoted to be the backup this year. Sens sign him for three years @ $1M so they have a goalie to expose in 2021.
Wolanin - Played well at the NHL level. They extend him for two years at $1M.
Klimchuk, Englund, Paul, Rodewald - Extended one year
Tambellini is let go

UFA's
Offer Paajarvi a two year deal at $1.25M. He may not find a better offer and elects to stay on this rebuilding club where he will get ice time.
Offer Lindberg a two year deal at $2.25M. I expect he will find a better offer and chooses to sign elsewhere.
All other Ottawa UFA's are released.
Ottawa attempts to bring back local guy and former Senator Brassard on a one year deal @ $4M with the intention of collecting a pick for him at the deadline (slightly overpay to help get to the floor). They also approach Pirri with a good opportunity for NHL ice time over a two year deal @ $1.5M.

Trades
Explanation of each trade individually.
I see Duchene leaving Columbus as they are losing their best players as UFA's, but Karlsson staying in San Jose as they are still a good team with a shot at a cup (removed the transfer of the second based on Karlssons thank you tweet to SJS organization).
Overall, expect Ottawa to shop pending UFA's at the deadline (as well as in the off season) for pick/prospects. This includes Pageau, Brassard (if signed), Boedker, Borowieki, and perhaps even DeMelo though I think they should retain him.
I see Ceci aggressively shopped and attempting to meet the cap floor by targeting a both a RD that will be with the team for a while and a center that can mentor the young guys and then get moved out in a deadline deal in either of the next two years.
I also think they would consider moving Anderson to a contender both as a favor and to attempt to get a draft selection.

Lineup
Top line is a step above the others, but #'s 2-4 in terms of ice time will vary based on who is going that night. Could swap Boedker and Duclair to give each line a veteran player but I put him with Balcers to keep the Euros paired up. I think Brannstrom makes the team and plays well on the third pairing and 2nd PP. The second pairing will cause the Sens the most issues with match ups. Looking for Allen to bounce back playing for a team with no expectations and think tempting Hogberg with a backup role where he may be required to step in to play for long stretches as a pseudo starter keeps him from going back to Sweden (along with the three year contract offer). Powerplay setup is a 1-3-1 with Chabot & Brannstrom as the QB's, Tkachuk & Duclair as net front presence and the rest across the middle of the zone. PK has a left & right shot center on each, with PK2 really looking to counter attack at the end of the PP.

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