We have discussed similar topics before, but as we progress, we utilize the tool CapFriendly to assist in how the 2024-25 Ottawa Senators roster will shape up. One thing is for sure, the offseason will see turnover as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios begins to implant his stamp on the organization. A layer of complication is formed when you consider that around the trade deadline, Staios alluded to the tightness of the group. He stated how important the individuals are to the team dynamic. Also, he will need to hire a new head coach. However, for our discussion, we will focus on the turnover, and who needs to be replaced.
Building CapFriendly Ottawa Senators Roster Without These Three Players
The top players that come to mind as though they are on their way out include Anton Forsberg, Erik Brannstrom, and Dominik Kubalik. Even though when you consider the tight-knit nature of the club, both Brannstrom and Forsberg would fit that identifier. Conversely, the league is a business and the business is winning. Staios needs to make absolutely certain he puts his best product forward. Moreover, for these players, it may not be their skills, but rather their roles that they needed to play in Ottawa. Furthermore, for these three, in particular, their salaries come into play. That is money that as we see on Capfriendly below, is better spent elsewhere for the Ottawa Senators.
Kubalik Needs to Be More of a Complete Player
If we re-cap some statistics, Kubalik came in known as someone who has scored 30 in the NHL. The one positive side of Kubalik’s game this year has been his 10 goals. In contrast, he has a bad CF% Rel at -0.8 and he has an expected goal differential of -9.8. Depth forwards need to be reliable, two-way players, and Kubalik has been anything but that for the Sens. He does play the power play and his 13 % shooting percentage is decent, but he doesn’t shoot enough to make it impactful.
Brannstrom and Forsberg Need to Go as Well
In addition to Kubalik, another name to move on from is Erik Brannstrom. He is effective at times and a great skater. However, he barely plays 16 minutes a night and at 24, it is time to move on. Get him a fresh start. Finally, for Forsberg, he has been unable to duplicate his 2021-22 season. The Sens goalies in general have felt a lot of the blame for the team’s struggles in 2023-24. Therefore, these are the moves to make to free up cap space and give others more opportunity.
Additions for Our CapFriendly Ottawa Senators 2024-25 Roster
With these names on the way out, it makes room for new players coming in. Also, it gives the chance to those within the organization. Players like Max Guenette, Tyler Kleven, and Zack Ostapchuk will make a strong case to fill positions in camp. The newcomer Boris Katchouk should make a strong case for regular game action as well. Additionally, Mads Sogaard has played well enough in Belleville, combined with his NHL experience to get an NHL job. So, where do question marks remain?
Moving On | Coming in Hot LIVE – March 19th https://t.co/ez5tqBwlWX
— Coming In Hot (@ComingInHotSens) March 19, 2024
On defence, assuming Kleven makes the jump to the NHL, there would be one right-side position open. Fighting for the position with Guenette includes Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Now, this could also get interesting if the Senators are able to use their assets wisely. If they can either make a package or save enough cap space, they may have money to bring someone in. This topic was discussed on the Sens podcast Coming in Hot. Moreover, this could really be a difference-maker for the Ottawa Senators roster in 2024-25. If they can somehow bring in a top-four, right-hand defenceman, look for them to bring stability to their roster. Only time will tell.
According to Capfriendly, How Will the Ottawa Senators 2024-25 Roster Be Aligned?
So, if this is their layout, just how much would they have available? This graphic explains how some moves would work and impact the projected salary cap hit for 2024-25. One item the Senators would love to address from this year is being at the cap limit and subsequent roster size. There were a few games, where the Senators were unable to dress 18 skaters. That truly is unacceptable. So, in our example where we brought in someone like Sean Durzi, we don’t need to avail of the entire around $6M in free cap space on additional funds above the $3.5 allocated for Durzi. Rather, a better decision would be to get as close to 23 roster spots as possible. That way, when you have an expected injury or two, you don’t end up with a short bench. These little things are what will set the accountability and organization management for Michael Andlauer, Staios and the rest of the staff going forward.
Main photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
