Ottawa Senators sign veteran centre Lars Eller on quiet Canada Day
'We're excited to bring Lars into our group. He's another veteran with experience, a high-character individual who can move around the lineup.'
Article content
All was quiet at the Canadian Tire Centre on Canada Day.
Steve Staios, the Ottawa Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, tried to get involved in the National Hockey League’s free agent frenzy, but only made a couple of small moves, including the signing of veteran centre Lars Eller from Washington for the fourth line.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Ottawa Senators sign veteran centre Lars Eller on quiet Canada Day Back to video
Eller signed a one-year, $1.25 million U.S. deal.
“We’re excited to bring Lars into our group,” Staios said. “He’s another veteran with experience, a high-character individual who can move around the lineup. We were looking to build on our depth.”
If the Senators are to take a step further next season, the answers will have to come from within. Staios and coach Travis Green have stated they believe in this group after making the playoffs for the first time in eight years, and that’s the case.
“I haven’t seen what the other teams have done, and we’re focused on what we’re doing here, and we don’t get distracted by what other teams are doing,” Staios said. “We feel like we have a good plan in place for this group, we’re mindful of this group and their growth and their development.
“I can’t emphasize enough that I like that they are taking hold of it. The manager is there to support and to make sure that you can add where you need to add. The emphasis is on this group, and continuing to make additions is strategic to this group. I don’t think that they need so much as the support around them to take to continue to grow and develop together.”
Ottawa has approximately $5 million in cap space with 20 of 23 players on the roster signed.
As Postmedia reported heading into free agency, the Senators were interested in Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser and rugged Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot.
Boeser opted to stay in Vancouver on a seven-year deal that will pay him $7.25 million per season. The Senators opted not to match an offer Jeannot had from the Boston Bruins worth $3.4 million a season for five years.
The Senators would have been happy to add some scoring or muscle. They weren’t able to address either area, but Staios stated that he’s genuinely pleased with the club’s roster.
“Going into this free agency was different than last year, where we had more areas that we were looking to address. And it was comforting going into this year, where really we were looking for one specific area that if we could improve in it, we would,” said Staios, adding that was Eller.
The Senators took care of some business by confirming the signing of rugged winger Nick Cousins to a one-year deal at $825,000. He suited up for 50 games last season after signing as an unrestricted free agent from the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Cousins missed a lengthy stretch with a leg injury he suffered in January that was supposed to keep him out for the balance of the season. He worked hard to get back in time for the playoffs. Cousins finished with six goals and 15 points with the Senators.
“You see what Nick brings to the team,” Staios said. “He’s a high-energy player, competitive, great teammate, tons of courage and throughout the regular season, that’s important. As you continue to get into those tougher games at the end of the season and into the playoffs, that’s the type of player that you want on your team.”
The club also signed veteran winger Claude Giroux, goaltender Leevi Merilainen and made a deal with the Los Angeles Kings for defenceman Jordan Spence in the days leading up to July 1.
Keeping Giroux on a team-friendly deal with a base salary of $2 million plus bonuses was important.
“It shows the true character of what Claude Giroux is all about,” Staios said. “There’s an opportunity for him to become a free agent, but he believes in what we’re doing here in Ottawa as a group, and he believes in himself.
“We’re grateful to have a player like that … Very grateful for him and his family.”
Centre Adam Gaudette, who had 19 goals last season, signed a two-year deal with the Sharks with a cap hit of $2 million a year.
The club also added some depth for Belleville. The Senators signed winger Olle Lycksell to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $775,000 in the NHL and $500,000 guaranteed in the American Hockey League.
Lycksell, 25, had 19 goals and 44 points in 45 games with the Philadelphia Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh last season.
After Merilainen was signed, that confirmed Anton Forsberg’s days with the Senators were finished. He joined former Senators coach D.J. Smith in Los Angeles on a two-year deal that will pay him $2.25 million per season.
Staios is confident Merilainen is ready to play in the NHL.
“Leevi expedited his development last year,” Staio said. “His differentiators, his mindset and approach. The moment just doesn’t seem too big for him. And he’s continued to grow and develop. And, you know, we’re looking forward to watching that continue next season.”
The club also plans to speak to centre Shane Pinto about an extension.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.