Day 1 of Free Agency

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    Let's just say that Day 1 of Free Agency was VERY eventful. The Ottawa Senators went into Friday  looking to address several issues:

1. Re-sign Captain, Daniel Alfredsson.
2. Address the need for a Top 6 Forward.
3. Make the Ottawa Senators a better team than the one entering the market.

Ottawa did two out of the three tasks.


    The Senators informed the media late Friday morning that the news was official, and the longest active tenured captain in the NHL would NOT be returning to the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa was unable to come to terms on a deal to keep the Senators' Captain in town for an 18th season. Bryan Murray addressed the whole Alfredsson timeline in a press conference yesterday afternoon. I'll drop the link to it below. GM Bryan Murray said Thursday that he was highly confident that he would be able to re-sign Alfie, and he mentioned how he offered him a blank cheque, but Alfredsson decided to test the market instead. He mentioned that he wanted to win a Stanley Cup, and how he didn't want Ottawa to feel pressured to make him an offer. He didn't want his contract to be a blockade ruining what the Senators were doing with their youth. There were many fans upset with his decision, but if what he did isn't considered a class act, then I don't know what is. Alfredsson informed Ottawa about the decision late Friday morning and told them to get ready to make an offer to UFA, David Clarkson as Alfredsson decided to move on from the organization after 17 seasons.  After much circulated interest in the 40 year old veteran's services highlighted mainly by Detroit and Boston, Alfredsson chose Detroit. I personally thought he was going to Boston who's coming off a Stanley Cup Final appearance. Funniest thing? With the new realignment being placed into effect this upcoming season, Detroit will now be in Ottawa's division. The motto was always, "Let's win it for Alfie", but now that motto may be turn into "Let's win it against Alfie".
    Once this move was made, the Senators added former Toronto Maple Leaf, RW, Clarke MacArthur. I'll get to him in just a minute.  However, the Senators' fan base was still mourning the loss of their Captain, a day that simply didn't seem would ever come. Questions were circulating in the nation's capital. Who would even be able to fill the shoes Alfie left here in Ottawa? Were the Sens done for the day? Don't forget, Ottawa is struggling financially although GM Bryan Murray and Owner, Eugene Melnyk always shoot it down. There's no denying the struggling of the finances of the Senators, as just a couple years ago Melnyk told the media, "To be competitive, you need to be willing and able to spend to the cap", and now he says, "Players who come to Ottawa will be needing to both, want to play in Ottawa, and take a pay cut." Situations like these don't change overnight. So with the rumors of Ottawa being a cap floor team rather than a cap ceiling team, and the statement about Ottawa simply spending around $50 million in player salaries. You could just see it in effect in the beginning of the day in Free Agency. Ottawa let many players walk out. Let's take a look:

1. Daniel Alfredsson to Detroit for reportedly $5.5 million for simply 1 year.
2. Andre Benoit to Colorado on a one year deal, $900,000.
3. Peter Regin to the Islanders on a one year deal reportedly $750,000.
4. Guillame Latandresse to FA.

     You could simply tell that Ottawa simply wasn't willing to spend that type of money on those players, with the exception of Alfredsson. With big names already coming off the board, such as Clarkson who Ottawa reportedly was in pursuit of and Alfredsson suggested they should go after went to divisional rival, Toronto. Ottawa made their first and only signing of the day on former Maple Leaf, Clarke MacArthur. They signed him to a two year deal, $6.25 million. Now, something MacArthur brings to Ottawa is great hockey sense, and a scoring touch which is something that you knew was looking to be addressed this offseason. Let's take a closer look at MacArthur,

In 2010-2011, MacArthur scored 21 goals while tallying 41 assists, recording 62 points with a plus/minus of -3.

In 2011-2012, MacArthur scored 20 goals while tallying 23 assists, recording 43 points with a plus/minus of 3.

In 2012-2012, MacArthur scored 8 goals while tallying 12 assists, recording 20 points with a plus/minus of 3.

    Based on these stats, you can simply see that there is no doubt that MacArthur can score. Although, his production decreased every season, it may be that he just didn't adapt to Toronto Head Coach, Rick Carlyle's system. I really believe that he will be able to succeed in Ottawa especially with Head Coach, Paul MacLean.

    The day continued, and the day seemed gloomy as Ottawa was very quiet, until GM Bryan Murray may have made the biggest splash of the day, and the biggest splash in Ottawa Senators' history. Mid-afternoon, news broke out that Ottawa had just traded for scoring winger, Bobby Ryan from Anaheim. Ottawa sent promising prospects Stefan Noesen, Jakob Silfverberg, and a 2014 1st round pick. Bryan Murray made a trade that may have perhaps saved the franchise. Murray was looking for a top six forward and a scoring forward to be more specific, and he definitely got that in Bobby Ryan. Ryan is a four-time 30 goal scorer who was thrilled to join the Sens. Many fans rejoiced and suddenly Ottawa became even stronger contenders than they were the past two seasons. Murray had a press conference after the signing around 5 p.m. ET on Friday to discuss the Alfie situation and Bobby Ryan signing. Best part of it all? When asked if he was done yet considering cap being about $54 million. Murray said that he was not done and he is in the process of looking for a top four defenseman. There is no doubt that there is a hole in the defense aside from the anchor, Erik Karlsson. Help is on the way, but can we buy Murray's words? Last time he said he'd do something was when he said he was confident that they'd re-sign Alfredsson, and we all know how that went. Murray can make this team better, it's whether or not Melnyk allows him to, budget-wise. Time will tell, and for now all we can do is stay tuned and watch what happens next! Be back with more thoughts tomorrow!

Bryan Murray Press Conference/Alfredsson Timeline: http://ottsens.com/14YZFyg 


Thanks for reading!