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Steve Staios continued to make changes to the Ottawa Senators.
Winger Mathieu Joseph was given his change of address Tuesday when the Senators sent him packing to the St. Lous Blues along with a third round draft pick to get his $2.95 million contract for the next two seasons off the books in exchange for future considerations.
The fact there are futures involved (which is essentially nothing in return) means that Staios was willing to pay whatever it took to move Joseph’s salary.
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This deal leaves the club with approximately $7.35 million U.S. in salary cap space and opens up the flexibility to get centre Shane Pinto, a restricted free agent, signed to a contract extension if Staios can find common ground in talks with his New York-based agent Lewis Gross.
The Senators were tight to the cap with only $4.4 million to spend after signing forwards David Perron ($4M) and Michael Amadio ($2.6M) to deals on July 1. This move is a sign to Pinto that the club is trying to get the space under the cap to get him under contract.
A league executive believes this deal is an olive branch to Pinto to show him that the club wants to make room for him.
The Senators have been trying to move Joseph since the season ended in mid-April, but haven’t been able to find any takers. He finished with 11 goals and 35 points in 72 games last season, but his play fell off in the second half and Staios felt the best bet was for both sides to move on.
Joseph was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for Nick Paul. After finishing with four goals and eight points in 12 games with Ottawa, he was signed to a four-year extension, but just hasn’t lived up to expectations.
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The move leaves the club with only nine forwards under contract, but Staios has stated the organization wants to get a deal done with Pinto. Finding common ground with Gross has been difficult because the 23-year-old was suspended for 41 games for gambling-related activities.
THE LAST WORDS
The Senators continued to bring in depth for Belleville on Day 2 of free agency.
While Staios addressed needs with Ottawa Monday, Belleville general manager Ryan Bowness brought in some help for AHL head coach David Bell and his staff Tuesday.
Defencemen Jacob Larsson and Lassi Thomson, who both played key roles for the Senators last season, signed overseas for next year along with Czechia winger Jiri Smejkal.
That meant the organization needed to bring in some help to get Belleville back to the playoffs next season.
The club brought back forward Adam Gaudette on a one-year, two-way deal that carries a $775,000 salary in the NHL and $450,000 price tag in the AHL. He had 44 goals and 71 points with Springfield last season.
Gaudette played 50 games for Ottawa during the 2021-22 campaign and will be a candidate for a callup.
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The Senators started the day by signing blueliner Filip Roos to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $775,000 in the NHL and $150,000 in the AHL. He spent most of last season with the Rockford IceHogs, but the 25-year-old did suit up for seven games with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Trying to add more depth up front, the Senators brought in forward Hayden Hodgson on a one-year, two-way deal at $775,000 in the NHL and $325,000 guarantee in the AHL.
The 28-year-old Hodgson suited up for 49 games with the Ontario Reign, the affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. He had six goals and 16 points.
The Senators also confirmed they’ve hired Stefen Legein and Andrew Campbell as assistant coaches in Belleville.
More later …
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