Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios studying roster changes as draft week heats up
Steve Staios is keeping his options open as one of the busiest weeks on the National Hockey League schedule kicks into high gear.
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The Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations and general manager plays his cards close to his vest, but with Round 1 of the NHL draft set for Friday and free agency opening on Canada Day at noon, Staios is studying every scenario.
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Unlike last year at this time, when the club acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins, signed David Perron as an unrestricted free agent and acquired defenceman Nick Jensen, the Senators aren't sitting here with a high priority list of areas they need to address.
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While Staios hasn't ruled out the possibility of adding 5-on-5 scoring or a right-shot defenceman through a trade or free agency, he hasn't ruled out the possibility of the answers coming from within after the club made the playoffs for the first time in eight years last spring.
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'If I get aggressive to try and add, where do I add, and who is it, is the question,' Staios told reporters during a pre-draft availability on Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. 'If it makes any sense, I would. Everybody gets eager at this time of year to make a big splash or get a big player.
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'But my approach has always been that it has to be the right fit at the right time. If July 1st, and the first part of free agency, there's not a fit, then we'll continue to work at it. There are other opportunities further on into the summer and into the year. I don't want to force anything with this group, and they continue to move in the right direction. I keep that in mind.'
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The Senators ranked No. 30 in 5-on-5 scoring last season and that's an area that needs to improve to help the club become a team that can make the next step in the playoffs.
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Postmedia has reported that the Senators will speak with Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser when unrestricted free agency opens on July 1 but, if he wants a seven-year deal, that's likely not going to happen here.
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Centre Dylan Cozens and winger Fabian Zetterlund were acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks, respectively, at the deadline in March. Zetterlund signed a three-year deal worth $4.275 million per season on Monday and will play a key role in the top six next year.
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Staios noted the competition for teams looking to add 5-on-5 scoring is stiff and that's why the answers may have to come from within.
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'When you're looking at improving the roster, at the trade deadline, we were able to acquire Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund,' Staios said. 'The reason I bring it up is that we feel like Zetterlund can grow into that type of player that creates 5-on-5.
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