The Ottawa Senators have certainly taken a big step forward this season. It’s nice for Sens fans to look at the standings on February 1st and see them in third place in the division, breathing down the necks of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
This is a position that neither the fans nor the players on the roster have found themselves in since the first calendar year of Donald Trump’s first presidency.
It’s been a total team effort up and down the lineup. And when injuries have occurred, young players from Belleville have steadied the ship, including a young rookie goalie who has captured the attention of the league with stellar play
But many of the players in this group are not signed for next season.
Which of these pieces has a future in Ottawa, and which won’t be back? A few of these players likely won’t make it past the trade deadline if the Senators remain in position to be buyers, so we’re going to work on the assumption that Ottawa is still in a playoff spot at the deadline, and no other roster moves are made.
Of course, anyone can be traded, and circumstances can change, but the Senators have shown a good amount of stability this season, and will likely sail ahead with what’s been working in most cases.
Today, we look at the unrestricted free agents.
UFA Forwards:
Nick Cousins
Sep 24, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senato right wing Nick Cousins (21) lines up for a faceoff in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Cousins has been a good fit as an energy player who can chip in some limited offence. A Cup winner last year with Florida and playing on a league minimum contract, the 31-year-old’s value comes from distracting the other team and opening up space for his linemates. The team likely accepts some poorly timed penalties as part of the package.
Assuming Cousins fully recovers from knee surgery, and he’ll have roughly 10 games to prove that at the end of the year, there’s a good chance he returns.
In play at the trade deadline? No
Likelihood he stays: 75%
Predicted contract: 2 years, $1.5 million per.
Matthew Highmore
Dec 1, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (55) and Ottawa Senators center Matthew Highmore (15) battle the puck during the second period at Nationwide Arena.…