Senators don't extend qualifying offer to Wiercioch

The Ottawa Senators will make defenseman Patrick Wiercioch a free agent, declining to present him with a qualifying offer Monday.

The Senators had to extend a $2.7-million qualifying offer to retain Wiercioch's rights, which, even at the minimum, would have been difficult to swallow with Cody Ceci up for a new contract, and a lot of money tied up in Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, and Marc Methot.

Wiercioch closed his 2014-15 season on a high, earning an invitation from Canada for the World Championship, but wasn't able to carry that momentum into his fifth professional season last year.

He finished with five assists in 52 games, taking bottom-pairing minutes.