The Ottawa Senators have signed some forward depth, adding Adam Tambellini on a one-year two-way contract. The deal will pay Tambellini $650K at the NHL level and just $85K in the AHL. Tambellini was not issued a qualifying offer from the New York Rangers and became an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
It was a surprise when Tambellini, 23, didn’t receive a qualifying offer this summer, since he’d been a solid player in the Rangers organization for the past three seasons. Scoring at least 13 goals and 32 points in each of his professional seasons, the third-round pick could have been given another two-way contract in 2018-19. He is no longer waiver-exempt, but it seems unlikely that any team would claim him at this point in his career. For the Senators he’ll have to go through the same process, but without any NHL experience to speak of he’ll likely clear with no problem.
For Ottawa, he’ll join a Belleville Senators team that is looking for offense after scoring just 194 goals last season. That put them near the very bottom of the league, something they’ll need to change if they are to compete for the Calder Cup playoffs. Tambellini can certainly help the AHL squad, but there isn’t much reason to think he’ll play a big role for Ottawa this season.
As a Sens fan I believe I speak for most of us when I say we’re extremely jaded and frustrated at the situation. Knowing we’ve traded potentially the first overall pick in next years draft you think a Dorion would work his ass off to improve the team but considering the toxicity surrounding our club and the fact we have an owner who is cash-poor, we’re screwed. Our franchise is doomed for failure until something changes within the realm of management and ownership.
bingo.