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Ottawa Citizen
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Senators resume talks to get veteran Claude Giroux signed
Talks to keep Claude Giroux with the Ottawa Senators have reached a pivotal stage. Article content Owner Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, sat down with Giroux's Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson during last week's National Hockey League Combine in Buffalo and agreed to continue the talks this week. Article content Article content 'It takes two sides,' Staios told reporters at the club's alumni charity golf tournament last Friday. 'There's good dialogue between both sides and I think we want to find some common ground.' Article content Article content The two agree that the Senators would like to keep the 37-year-old veteran winger and his first choice is to stay. Both sides have now intensified their efforts to finalize a deal that will prevent Giroux from entering unrestricted free agency on July 1. Article content Article content The clock is now ticking because the closer Giroux gets to free agency without a contract, the more he may be inclined to test the market. Article content Giroux is comfortable here. He lives in Ottawa full-time, his wife Ryanne gave birth to the couple's third child recently and this is their home. Article content Nobody can argue that Giroux has been one of the best free-agent signings in the history of this franchise. He plays a role on and off the ice. Article content What both sides are trying to determine is what a new contract looks like. It's a little surprising this deal hasn't been completed because it shouldn't take that long, but a negotiation has to take place. Article content Article content Andlauer sat in on the meeting in Buffalo because he feels Giroux is an important part of the club's makeup. Article content Article content We're led to believe that the Senators would like to sign Giroux to a one-year extension and that was the length of their initial offer. This is a contract for an over-35-year-old player, which means it won't offer any cap relief if Giroux's game falls off.. Article content The discussions in Buffalo were cordial, but sources say heading into this week, the two sides had a gap to bridge to get a deal done to keep Giroux from testing the market. Article content Signed to a three-year, $18.5-million US contract on July 1, 2022, Giroux made $6.5 million last season. He is willing to take a reduction in pay, but how much? What does the structure of a new contract look like? Article content In 245 career games with the Senators, Giroux has contributed 71 goals and 122 assists for 193 points. The only game he missed in three seasons was down the stretch this year while being rested for the playoffs.
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
If the Ottawa Senators trade Drake Batherson, they'd have to get a strong return
What does a trade involving Drake Batherson look like? 'If you're going to move him, it had better be for a lot,' former league executive Doug MacLean said over the phone from his home in Prince Edward Island on Wednesday morning. 'We're talking a good player here, a really good player who has had a lot of success.' It once would have been unthinkable that the Senators would consider moving the 27-year-old winger. Still, with the National Hockey League Combine taking place this week in Buffalo, there has been no shortage of talk that the club is listening to teams interested in Batherson. Whether the talks that Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios is having will lead to action remains to be seen. The fact that the Senators are considering it means the club wants to continue to change its mix up front. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Staios struck at the club's core by dealing centre Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for pivot Dylan Cozens at the NHL trade deadline in March. Listening is a large part of Staios' job, but whether the talk turns to action with Batherson remains to be seen. The Senators made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this spring, but they struggled mightily to score this year and were last in the league in five-on-five offence. The Senators have been linked to Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson because the club was eliminated in the Western Conference final last week and has a cap crunch. League executives say the Stars haven't shown any interest in moving Robertson and there haven't been any talks. If the Sens do move Batherson, who had 26 goals and 68 points in 82 games last season, the club will need to bring back a big piece. League executives say the Senators have been studying the market for a right-shot defenceman because of the uncertainty surrounding veteran Nick Jensen. League sources say Jensen, 34, is believed to have played through a hip ailment for the second half of the season and had surgery last month in New York City. There is no timeline for his return, but it's almost a certainty he won't be ready for camp in September. The Senators could move Tyler Kleven to the right side to start the year, but they'd still need to add depth. Since we don't know when Jensen will play, that's why Staios may be scouring that market. To get a good player, you have to give up something in return. Batherson is a good player and that may be a tough pill for the organization to swallow, which is why he could indeed be back next season. He has two years left on a deal that pays him $4.975 million US per season. Yes, Batherson has bouts with inconsistency — what player doesn't? — but he just posted his third straight season with more than 20 goals. Fabian Zetterlund would get more ice if the Senators don't bring back a forward in a potential deal involving Batherson. MacLean said if the Senators are serious about dealing Batherson, they'd have to make a trade similar to the one that saw Cutter Gauthier traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a first-round pick. The Flyers were able to get a good return, but general manager Daniel Briere was in a difficult position because Gauthier had indicated he had no intention of signing with Philadelphia. The Senators are dealing from a position of strength because they don't have to trade Batherson. He has been a good soldier for the organization and has shown improvement, but it's fair to say his performance in the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs left a lot to be desired. We've learned from Staios since he took over the GM's duties Dec. 31, 2023, that he doesn't rush into anything. He let the emotions of the playoffs wear off before sitting down to do a deep dive with coach Travis Green and what the club needs. All 32 teams are represented in Buffalo and Staois is among those holding discussions with other teams to see what the trade landscape looks like. He's expected to address the Ottawa media on Friday before the Senators Alumni charity golf tournament being held at the Canadian. Staios doesn't tip his hand on much, but Postmedia reported last week that he was expected to sit down with Claude Giroux's agent Pat Brisson this week in Buffalo to try to get a contract in place. League executives say Giroux, 37, doesn't have much interest in playing anywhere else next season and they expect he'll get a deal done with the Senators. They expect the only way that wouldn't happen is if the two sides can't agree on money. bgarrioch@
Ottawa Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
If the Ottawa Senators trade Drake Batherson, they'd have to get a strong return
Article content What does a trade involving Drake Batherson look like? Article content 'If you're going to move him, it had better be for a lot,' former league executive Doug MacLean said over the phone from his home in Prince Edward Island on Wednesday morning. 'We're talking a good player here, a really good player who has had a lot of success.' Article content Article content It once would have been unthinkable that the Senators would consider moving the 27-year-old winger. Still, with the National Hockey League Combine taking place this week in Buffalo, there has been no shortage of talk that the club is listening to teams interested in Batherson. Article content Article content Whether the talks that Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios is having will lead to action remains to be seen. The fact that the Senators are considering it means the club wants to continue to change its mix up front. Article content Article content Staios struck at the club's core by dealing centre Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for pivot Dylan Cozens at the NHL trade deadline in March. Article content Listening is a large part of Staios' job, but whether the talk turns to action with Batherson remains to be seen. The Senators made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this spring, but they struggled mightily to score this year and were last in the league in five-on-five offence. Article content The Senators have been linked to Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson because the club was eliminated in the Western Conference final last week and has a cap crunch. League executives say the Stars haven't shown any interest in moving Robertson and there haven't been any talks. Article content Article content If the Sens do move Batherson, who had 26 goals and 68 points in 82 games last season, the club will need to bring back a big piece. League executives say the Senators have been studying the market for a right-shot defenceman because of the uncertainty surrounding veteran Nick Jensen. Article content Article content League sources say Jensen, 34, is believed to have played through a hip ailment for the second half of the season and had surgery last month in New York City. There is no timeline for his return, but it's almost a certainty he won't be ready for camp in September. Article content The Senators could move Tyler Kleven to the right side to start the year, but they'd still need to add depth. Since we don't know when Jensen will play, that's why Staios may be scouring that market. To get a good player, you have to give up something in return. Article content Batherson is a good player and that may be a tough pill for the organization to swallow, which is why he could indeed be back next season. He has two years left on a deal that pays him $4.975 million US per season.
Ottawa Citizen
30-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Discussions between the Ottawa Senators and Claude Giroux about to heat up
Article content Steve Staios, Ottawa's president of hockey operations and general manager, will shuffle off to Buffalo on Sunday for the National Hockey League Combine that will formally get underway Monday as the 32 teams begin interviews with prospects. Article content Postmedia reported May 15 the Senators have already held informal contract talks with Giroux's Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson, the expectation is the two sides will sit down for face-to-face discussions sometime next week to try to get an agreement in place. Article content Article content The 37-year-old Giroux is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the two sides have already found common ground in talks because he wants to stay with the club and the Senators have expressed interest in keeping him. Article content Article content Now, the two sides have to see if they can get this piece of business out of the way so that Giroux can enjoy his summer and Staios can turn his focus to trying to help the Senators roster improve after the club made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Article content Postmedia has spoken with several league executives since the Senators were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all agree that Giroux's next deal should have a base salary in the $3 million range plus achievable bonuses that could allow him to make between $4.5-to-$5 million. Article content Those league executives also predicted that the Senators will likely get a deal done because both sides are committed to making it happen, and it makes sense for Giroux to stay in Ottawa. Article content Article content The biggest decision for Staios, and the Senators, is the term. Should it be a one or two-year deal? This is a contract for an over 35-year-old, which means it won't offer any cap relief if Giroux's game falls off. Article content Article content 'I'd prefer to pay him on a one year contract because those wheels are going to fall off,' a league executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Postmedia on Friday. 'They didn't last year, they did a little bit at the end, but I thought he had a pretty good year.' Article content The issue the Senators are facing is the level of interest Giroux would get if he did get to the market on July 1. League executives believe the Montreal Canadiens would be among several teams that would make a pitch. Article content 'Giroux might be able to get two years if he goes somewhere else so you have to be cognizant of that. You want to do one year.' Article content Making $6.5 million U.S. in the final season of a three-year deal he signed with the Senators on July 1, 2022, Giroux is without question the best free-agent signing this club has had in its history.
