The Senators have been believed to be talking to some of their pending unrestricted free agents about the possibility of signing a contract extension before the February 24th trade deadline. It appears that veteran Mark Borowiecki will soon be sitting down for his talks as TSN’s Darren Dreger reports in the latest Insider Trading (video link) that discussions with the 30-year-old are expected to occur in the near future. Borowiecki has spent the entirety of his NHL career with the Sens, spanning parts of nine seasons. He’s in the midst of a career year with 18 points in 53 games while averaging 17:56 per night, nearly three minutes more than his career average. That should have him in line for a raise on his current $1.2MM price tag and while the veteran has indicated his preference to stay in Ottawa, he may have to take a little less than he could get on the open market to stay there. Unfortunately for both him and the team, he is expected to be out for a little while following an injury sustained last night, notes Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas (Twitter link) which could also impact his odds of being dealt.
More from Ottawa:
- While there are plenty of veterans available, at least one of Ottawa’s prospects can be had. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 31 Thoughts column that winger Max Veronneau is available. The 24-year-old signed with the Sens in college free agency last season out of Princeton and held his own with four points in a dozen games. However, he has been quieter in the minors this year with just five goals and five assists in 33 contests but teams that had interest in him a year ago could certainly still be interested now. He hasn’t played in a month but could return to action with Belleville as soon as tonight.
- Winger Bobby Ryan is still likely a couple of weeks away from returning, notes TSN’s Brett Wallace (Twitter link). He left the team back in November to enter into the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program but resumed skating back on February 5th. With that timeline, he will be returning after the roster size limit will have been lifted. Prior to stepping away, he had played a sparing role, suiting up in 16 games while recording a goal and three assists. If Ottawa moves some players out as expected though, there could be an opportunity for more playing time down the stretch.