Sens owner Melnyk hints at roster rebuilding after extending GM
The Ottawa Senators' roster appears set for a shakeup.
In announcing a three-year contract extension for general manager Pierre Dorion and the departure of team president Tom Anselmi, club owner Eugene Melnyk affirmed his desire to bring a winner to Ottawa.
Given the team's position in the standings, tough decisions are ahead in regards to refining a roster one year removed from double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Those decisions, Melnyk says, may be painful to accept.
Sens press release announcing contract extension for Pierre Dorion has comment from Eugene Melnyk that seems to indicate the club is willing to go thru some sort of rebuild/retool process. pic.twitter.com/GuC9tPpY3e
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 9, 2018
The Senators will see forward Mark Stone hit restricted free agency this summer, with some high-profile players set to become unrestricted free agents in 2019 - namely Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, and Derick Brassard.
Ottawa also doesn't possess a second-round draft pick in 2018, and their first-round pick will be forfeited to Colorado if it falls outside the top 10. That doesn't seem likely at this point, meaning the Avalanche will receive Ottawa's 2019 first-round selection instead.
The NHL trade deadline is set for Feb. 26.