Whatever happens from here out until the start of the season, it shouldn’t change the fact that Pierre Dorion has had a successful offseason: acquiring Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, as well as bolstering the goaltending, and taking care of some of the more problematic contracts on the team, has given the organization new life.
That said, the Ottawa Senators are still one major piece away from being a favorite to make the playoffs — that elusive Top-4 defenseman.
Most of the seemingly available options via trade and free agency have been exhausted. John Klingberg was available for $7M on a one-way deal, but that contract would’ve put Ottawa closer to the cap than they’d probably like with some RFAs still unsigned.