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Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- 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.
Edmonton Journal
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
HAVE YOUR SAY: Senators fans bullish on team's future in reader poll results
Article content The cat already is out of the bag with Ottawa's first-round draft pick, as Staios decided not to forfeit his 2025 selection, as expected. That aligns with the poll results, which seem to favour the wait-and-see approach that owner Michael Andlauer has advocated. In terms of changes to be made, fans largely concurred on who they didn't want back. Out of time and favour among the Senators faithful is backup goaltender Anton Forsberg, whose UFA status could see him replaced by 22-year-old Leevi Merilainen. Fans are high on the Finnish netminder, who posted a sparkling .925 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average over 12 NHL starts. Fans also liked the Dylan Cozens trade, although he was the top player respondents think needs to be better next season. Dennis Gilbert — the other piece of the deal — along with Travis Hamonic, are popular defenders to let go of this summer in free agency. Both are unrestricted and likely won't be kept. At forward, respondents felt generally favourable towards re-signing Adam Gaudette after his breakout goal-scoring performance this season, while Nick Cousins and especially Matthew Highmore were seen as more dispensable. Take a look at the results below:
Vancouver Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa Senators blueliner Nick Jensen undergoes surgery for lower-body ailment
Nick Jensen has gone under the knife, Postmedia has learned. League sources told Postmedia that the Ottawa Senators' defenceman underwent a procedure in New York on Monday for a lower-body ailment that hampered the 34-year-old for most of the second half of the season. By all accounts, the surgery went as planned for Jensen, who played a key role in helping the Senators make the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Sources say there is no timeline for Jensen's recovery, but he stated at the club's exit interviews with the media that he was 'hopeful' he'd be ready for the start of training camp in September. 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. If you're wondering why Jensen didn't have the surgery until three weeks after the Senators were eliminated from the National Hockey League playoffs, he stated on May 3 that he was studying his options for the best route to recovery with the club's medical staff. We're told that, after looking at all the options, the Senators and Jensen's camp both felt this was the best route to take. The recovery time can be different for everybody, especially older players. He limped into the room when he showed up to speak to the media, and rarely participated in practice during the second half of the season. He also wasn't on the ice for morning skates during the club's six-game series against the Leafs that ended on May 1. 'I've been grinding a little bit to get through a lot of these games. But credit to our health staff, they've been helping me get through this. I've been able to get all the way through playoffs with it, and I could have continued to play with it,' Jensen said on May 3. Acquired from the Washington Capitals last summer in a deal that sent Jakob Chychrun back in return, Jensen was a key addition. He played 71 games and was a strong partner for defenceman Thomas Chabot. Jensen, a strong skater, finished with three goals and 21 points in 71 games with the Senators. He averaged 20 minutes and 13 seconds in ice time a night, which is impressive, especially when he had to have surgery to repair the undisclosed ailment he was playing through. Jensen also averaged 20:56 in the series against the Leafs. 'Nick is an absolute warrior,' Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, said on May 5. 'To be able to continue to perform at the level he did with the injury he was dealing with. 'It's the character of the individual.' Neither Staios nor Jensen would reveal the area of the injury on exit day, but it's safe to say the ailment was significant since he went under the knife. Staios said if the result of the surgery was that Jensen wouldn't be ready for camp, then the organization would study the possibility of bolstering its depth on the blueline because he plays a significant role in the top four. Everybody is hopeful that it won't be the case, but it will depend on how invasive the surgery was that Jensen underwent. Chabot said people wouldn't understand what Jensen had to go through last season to make sure he could be in the lineup every night. 'He's not going to talk about it, but that was a hell of a half of a season for him every day,' Chabot said. 'Everything he went through this year, he still dressed and played as hard as he could. It's honestly so impressive. There aren't many guys out there who are willing to go through that much during a season.' Jensen said it was just something he had to deal with daily, but he had to make sure he did whatever was necessary to be ready to play games. 'We have a practice with a purpose, and when you're not able to do it every day, it can be a little tough for your game, development-wise,' Jensen added. 'It can kind of dip here and there, when you should be practising and kind of keeping your game sharp. That was kind of a challenge going all year.' bgarrioch@
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa Senators bolster Belleville front office, add former NHLer Sam Gagner
The changes continued off the ice for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, continued to put his stamp on the Senators by naming former Ontario Hockey League executive Matt Turek as the GM of the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville. The Senators also started to rebuild their player development department by naming former NHL forward Sam Gagner as the director. Staios is heading into his second full season as the club's GM after the Senators made the post-season for the first time in eight years this spring. 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. Turek, who was Staios' box during the playoffs, will take on the role left vacant by the departure of associate GM Ryan Bowness from the club last week. As Postmedia reported 10 days ago, the two sides mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the season, and mentioned then that Turek was a name to watch. Turek was hired by Staios when he ran the Brantford Bulldogs franchise owned by Senators owner Michael Andlauer. Andlauer sold the franchise to Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman and his family, but the Bulldogs announced last month that the club wasn't able to get a deal done with Turek. He played a role on Staios' staff when the Bulldogs won the 2021-22 J. Ross Robertson Cup as the OHL champions. Andlauer has stated publicly that the organization needs to spend more time working on the market in Belleville. Turek also worked as an OHL scout for the Montreal Canadiens. Bowness had split his duties between work with Belleville and Ottawa. 'Matt has managed a successful Ontario Hockey League team, and he has gained critical management skills and experience at that level,' Staios said. 'In addition to his experience, Matt will bring passion and leadership to our organization.' What the decision will mean for the future of Belleville head coach David Bell remains to be seen. He has one year left on his deal, and Turek will likely have the green light to make whatever changes he feels are necessary. By all accounts, Bell has done a standout job in Belleville, especially with the injuries in Ottawa which left the AHL team with little depth. Belleville missed the AHL playoffs this spring. Gagner, 35, is an interesting hire and has a lot of work ahead of him. He wrapped up his National Hockey League career after suiting up for nearly 17 seasons with Edmonton, Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus, Vancouver, Detroit and Winnipeg. Gagner was selected No. 7 overall by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL draft. Gagner signed a professional tryout agreement as an unrestricted free agent last season with Belleville and suited up for 19 games. He finished with no goals and 10 assists in that stretch. 'Sam had an incredible career as a player, and we look forward to launching his next chapter,' Staios said. 'A true character individual, Sam has contributed to the success of his organizations, both on and off the ice.' The Senators need to bolster their player development after former Ottawa forward Jesse Winchester left the organization before the start of last season and Wade Redden only was used in a limited role. Shean Donovan was the club's director of player development, but he is no longer in that position and mainly skated injured players when the club was on the road. League executives say having a strong player development department is paramount because you need someone to keep in regular touch with the prospects and make sure they're making the proper steps in their careers. 'It's crucial because these guys establish a relationship with the players, and it gives the players someone to call,' a league executive said on Thursday. 'These guys can give the kids feedback.' bgarrioch@
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Ottawa Senators open contract talks with veteran winger Claude Giroux
Article content Article content The club wants to keep him and the veteran winger wants to stay. Article content Now, it's all about the details. Article content The 37-year-old Giroux is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but sources say there already have been informal talks between the Senators and his Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson since the club was eliminated from the playoffs. Article content Article content The expectation is that Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, will meet with Brisson sometime in the next few weeks to see if the two sides can agree on an extension. Article content Article content Article content The National Hockey League scouting combine will get underway the first week of June in Buffalo, so the belief is that Staios and Brisson may have a coffee there to determine what kind of contract makes sense to bring Giroux back. Article content We're told that both sides know that this negotiation is important and doesn't have to be difficult. This is a piece of business that can be taken care of so Giroux can focus on getting ready for next season and Staios can study his roster to see what changes need to be made. Article content Making $6.5 million US 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. 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. Article content Article content Averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time, Giroux ranks among the best faceoff men in the league with a 61.5% winning percentage last season. Article content Article content He's also as important with his leadership off the ice as he is when he's on it. Giroux has helped mould captain Brady Tkachuk and winger Tim Stutzle into becoming better players at both ends of the ice. Article content The Senators were able to take some of the pressure off Giroux this season by bringing in veteran wingers David Perron and Michael Amadio, along with defenceman Nick Jensen from the Washington Capitals. Article content Staios doesn't like to talk contract negotiations publicly, but he did state at the club's end-of-season availability that the organization wants to have Giroux return. Article content Giroux played a key role in helping the Senators make the next step and wants to be part of what's happening here in the future. Article content 'I love the players, the fans, the city. This year was the most fun I've had in a few years,' Giroux said on exit day. 'Coming to the rink was a lot of fun in that locker room. It's a pretty tight locker room, so there are a lot of good things.'
