Latest news with #Staios
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ottawa Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators general manager Steve Staios didn't do a lot on day one of free agency, but there was something familiar about his performance. For the second year in a row, Staios went out and acquired a free agent veteran role player, who's won a Stanley Cup.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Steve Staios' Top Five Trades (So Far) As Ottawa Senators GM
Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios has been on the job since November 1, 2023. He and owner Michael Andlauer had only been running the Senators for a few weeks before it became clear they didn't like what they were seeing under Pierre Dorion. The club opened the 2023–24 season jammed up against the salary cap, so much so that they played the season opener a man short. Shane Pinto was suspended 41 games for violating the NHL's gambling rules. Then the team was penalized a first-round draft pick for its role in the bungled Evgenii Dadonov trade to Vegas. Advertisement That's a pretty tough first month, and as they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Dorion was dismissed, and Staios, also the President of Hockey Operations, became the ninth general manager in Senators history. Is Carter Yakemchuk In The Ottawa Senators' NHL Plans For This Fall? Dissecting The Senators' Intriguing New Right-Shot Defensive Depth Chart Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa Staios took a patient approach, watching and evaluating his roster for eight months before making any serious changes. The only trade he made in that time was unloading winger Vladimir Tarasenko at the 2024 trade deadline for what turned out to be two third-round picks. Tarasenko's contract was about to expire, and with his no-movement clause, he was able to broker a trade to the Florida Panthers. Staios had to take what he could get for a player who wasn't in the team's plans. If the last two offseasons are any indication, where the Senators didn't make a single hockey trade between July and the March deadline, things are likely to go quiet now for some cottage and golf time. Staios all but confirmed that eight days ago, saying the Senators were "most likely" done making NHL additions this summer. Advertisement So we thought we'd look back at Staios' top five trades so far as he took on this 'fixer-upper.' June 24, 2024: Fixing the Goaltending The Senators acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round pick (#25). Not only did Staios manage to secure the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, he convinced the Bruins to take on Korpisalo's contract, which still had four years and $16 million remaining. The Senators agreed to retain $4 million of that. Unfortunately, Ullmark battled injuries throughout the season, which likely affected his overall performance, which ran hot and cold. He will begin a four-year contract this fall worth $8.25 million per season, and the Senators will need him to better next season. But in terms of value and potential impact, this stands as Staios' best trade so far. Trade Grade: A March 7, 2025: Trading a Core Piece The Senators traded fan favourite Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 second-round pick. Advertisement Norris was long considered a key piece of Ottawa's future, but his repeated injuries changed that. He's set to make $7.95 million annually for the next five years, and even when healthy, his production and impact haven't justified that price tag in the past couple of seasons. You could make a similar case for Cozens, whose remaining deal ($7.1 million AAV) runs just as long, but he offers more durability. Both players need to return to form, but the safer bet will always be the one who isn't constantly out with a bad shoulder. Trade Grade: A June 28, 2025: Picks for Spence, Sens the Richer The Senators acquired Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2025 third-round pick (#67) and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Advertisement Spence will be in the mix at training camp, competing with the right-shot incumbents, Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Nikolas Matinpalo, not to mention former first-rounders Carter Yakemchuk and Lassi Thomson. But any time you can get a useful NHL player for next to nothing, it's a win. What makes this deal more impressive is that Staios acquired the #67 pick by sliding down just two spots in the draft. So, effectively, Spence cost the Sens a sixth-rounder. What his impact will be remains to be seen, but it was a slick move to help shore up depth on the right side. Trade Grade: B+ March 7, 2025: Shark Week The Senators acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 second-round pick. Advertisement Zetterlund is another player Staios is counting on to rebound. Two seasons ago, he led the Sharks with 24 goals and was tracking for a similar total when the trade went down. But after arriving in Ottawa, he went ice-cold with zero goals in his first 15 games. He finished with five points in 20 games and then signed a three-year deal worth $4.25 million annually. Still only 25, his underlying numbers were solid, and he created chances even if the puck didn't go in for him. Besides, given what Ottawa gave up, it's not a huge risk. As a side bonus, if the Zamboni breaks down this winter, the muscle-bound Zetterlund can step in and carry it off the ice. That's a nice intangible. Trade Grade: B+ July 1, 2024: Rebalancing Act The Senators traded Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals for Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. Advertisement By the end of the 2023–24 season, Chychrun sounded noncommittal about signing an extension with Ottawa. Even if both sides had wanted to make it work, having three puck-moving defencemen on the left side, all making north of $8 million wouldn't be ideal. Washington needed one, eventually handing Chychrun an eight-year deal worth $9 million per season. With Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot already on the left side, the Sens desperately needed a shutdown righty. Enter Jensen – he's not flashy, but he's exactly what was needed, and he also helped Chabot have one of his best seasons in years. But straight-up, not many would rank Jensen as a better D than Chychrun, so it's hard to be a fan of the Sens having to throw in a third-rounder in the deal. Trade Grade: B There it is. Your top five Steve Staios trades so far. Let's see if they pay off this fall. Advertisement By Steve Warne The Hockey News/Ottawa More Sens Headlines: Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs: Where Did They End Up? Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles
Vancouver Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa Senators are home sweet home for Claude Giroux and his family
Home is where Claude Giroux's heart is. The Senators' alternate captain confirmed on Wednesday that he studied other options around the National Hockey League before signing a one-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $2 million US, with the opportunity to earn up to $4.75 million with bonuses. That's a significant cut from the $6.5 million that Giroux made in the final year of the deal he signed on July 1, 2022. Giroux came here three years ago to help the Senators take the next step, and he wants to be part of the solution after the club made the playoffs in the spring. In the end, it would have been too difficult for Giroux to walk away because there is unfinished business with the Senators. 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. 'A lot of work was put into the last three years, and it wasn't always fun,' Giroux said. 'But it was the steps that needed to be made. The relationships I have with the guys on the team are very important to me, and it's something I want to see through. 'I just want to get started here.' The 37-year-old Giroux didn't expect the contract negotiation would take as long as it did, but that's the business side of the game. The Senators held their initial talks with his Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson in mid-May, but the deal didn't get done until 48 hours before July 1. Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, stated on Tuesday that the negotiations with Giroux were difficult because the Senators hold him in high regard. 'It was one of the most challenging starts to the negotiation because you want to be fair to the player,' Staios said. 'What is that number? Not to get into specifics, but as we went through the process, the goal is to grow the team and be able to win. 'To do that, you need to manage the cap and the salary properly.' But Staios stated it was the hometown discount that Giroux took, which allowed the Senators to sign veteran centre Lars Eller to a $1.25 million deal with bonuses of $1 million in free agency. There was a point when Giroux was looking around to see what might be a good fit if he did decide to leave Ottawa. The belief is as many as 10 teams would have knocked on Giroux's door, including the Montreal Canadiens. 'When you go into free agency, you have to look at your options. That's just life,' said Giroux. 'But every time that my family talked about it, it always came down to that we like it here. We like the fans. I love my teammates. We like everything about it. So the more we talked, we talked about it, and it's something we wanted.' Giroux had no interest in uprooting his family for the guarantee of a little more term or cash elsewhere. The Senators wanted a one-year deal from the outset of the negotiation, and he had no issue with that. His wife, Ryanne, along with their children, Gavin, Palmer and Charlie, are settled here. 'It's not really about the money. It's what we've built the last few years,' Giroux said. 'It's not going to be easy next year; teams are going to be waiting for us. We still have a lot of work to do, but it's the work that I want to do with my teammates, and I'm excited about it. 'So, we can look at our team right now and be like, 'Oh, we're for sure going to make the playoffs, and for sure we're going to go to the second round'. It doesn't work like that. But it's a challenge that I personally, and my teammates, are looking forward to.' He enjoys being at the rink with the likes of captain Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Jake Sanderson, David Perron and Dylan Cozens, just to name a few. He knows this group can go further, and he understands his role will change. 'I wouldn't sign here if I didn't think we could do that,' Giroux said. 'I trust and believe in my teammates a lot. It's guys that I want to go to battle with, guys I want to be around every day with, and they chirp me every day. But coming to the rink is a lot of fun. 'And for me, that was a big part of the decision, because if you come to the rink every day and you're not enjoying yourself, it's not fun. Since I signed here, it hasn't felt like a job once, and I don't think it will.' bgarrioch@
Calgary Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Ottawa Senators are home sweet home for Claude Giroux and his family
Article content Home is where Claude Giroux's heart is. Article content The Senators' alternate captain confirmed on Wednesday that he studied other options around the National Hockey League before signing a one-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $2 million US, with the opportunity to earn up to $4.75 million with bonuses. Article content Article content That's a significant cut from the $6.5 million that Giroux made in the final year of the deal he signed on July 1, 2022. Giroux came here three years ago to help the Senators take the next step, and he wants to be part of the solution after the club made the playoffs in the spring. Article content Article content In the end, it would have been too difficult for Giroux to walk away because there is unfinished business with the Senators. Article content Article content 'A lot of work was put into the last three years, and it wasn't always fun,' Giroux said. 'But it was the steps that needed to be made. The relationships I have with the guys on the team are very important to me, and it's something I want to see through. Article content 'I just want to get started here.' Article content The 37-year-old Giroux didn't expect the contract negotiation would take as long as it did, but that's the business side of the game. The Senators held their initial talks with his Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson in mid-May, but the deal didn't get done until 48 hours before July 1. Article content Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, stated on Tuesday that the negotiations with Giroux were difficult because the Senators hold him in high regard. Article content Article content 'It was one of the most challenging starts to the negotiation because you want to be fair to the player,' Staios said. 'What is that number? Not to get into specifics, but as we went through the process, the goal is to grow the team and be able to win. Article content 'To do that, you need to manage the cap and the salary properly.' Article content But Staios stated it was the hometown discount that Giroux took, which allowed the Senators to sign veteran centre Lars Eller to a $1.25 million deal with bonuses of $1 million in free agency. Article content There was a point when Giroux was looking around to see what might be a good fit if he did decide to leave Ottawa. The belief is as many as 10 teams would have knocked on Giroux's door, including the Montreal Canadiens. Article content 'When you go into free agency, you have to look at your options. That's just life,' said Giroux. 'But every time that my family talked about it, it always came down to that we like it here. We like the fans. I love my teammates. We like everything about it. So the more we talked, we talked about it, and it's something we wanted.'
Ottawa Citizen
02-07-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Senators are home sweet home for Claude Giroux and his family
Article content The Senators' alternate captain confirmed on Wednesday that he studied other options around the National Hockey League before signing a one-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $2 million US, with the opportunity to earn up to $4.75 million with bonuses. Article content Article content That's a significant cut from the $6.5 million that Giroux made in the final year of the deal he signed on July 1, 2022. Giroux came here three years ago to help the Senators take the next step, and he wants to be part of the solution after the club made the playoffs in the spring. Article content Article content In the end, it would have been too difficult for Giroux to walk away because there is unfinished business with the Senators. Article content Article content 'A lot of work was put into the last three years, and it wasn't always fun,' Giroux said. 'But it was the steps that needed to be made. The relationships I have with the guys on the team are very important to me, and it's something I want to see through. Article content 'I just want to get started here.' Article content The 37-year-old Giroux didn't expect the contract negotiation would take as long as it did, but that's the business side of the game. The Senators held their initial talks with his Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson in mid-May, but the deal didn't get done until 48 hours before July 1. Article content Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, stated on Tuesday that the negotiations with Giroux were difficult because the Senators hold him in high regard. Article content Article content 'It was one of the most challenging starts to the negotiation because you want to be fair to the player,' Staios said. 'What is that number? Not to get into specifics, but as we went through the process, the goal is to grow the team and be able to win. Article content 'To do that, you need to manage the cap and the salary properly.' Article content But Staios stated it was the hometown discount that Giroux took, which allowed the Senators to sign veteran centre Lars Eller to a $1.25 million deal with bonuses of $1 million in free agency. Article content There was a point when Giroux was looking around to see what might be a good fit if he did decide to leave Ottawa. The belief is as many as 10 teams would have knocked on Giroux's door, including the Montreal Canadiens. Article content 'When you go into free agency, you have to look at your options. That's just life,' said Giroux. 'But every time that my family talked about it, it always came down to that we like it here. We like the fans. I love my teammates. We like everything about it. So the more we talked, we talked about it, and it's something we wanted.'
