Report: Senators, Giroux find common ground in contract talks

The Ottawa Senators and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Claude Giroux have found common ground in contract talks, reports Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

The two sides have already held informal contract talks and are expected to sit down face to face next week in an attempt to hammer out a deal, Garrioch adds.

Giroux, who grew up in Ottawa, joined his hometown Senators as a free agent in 2022. Though his production has declined in each of his three seasons with the club, the 37-year-old still managed 50 points in 81 games this past season. He also won a league-high 61.5% of his faceoffs.

AFP Analytics projects Giroux to ink a two-year deal with a $5.17-million cap hit. Evolving-Hockey predicts he'll sign a one-year, $3.25-million pact.

The Senators have $16.6 million in cap space this offseason. Adam Gaudette, Nick Cousins, Travis Hamonic, and Anton Forsberg represent their other top pending UFAs. Fabian Zetterlund and Tyler Kleven are their top restricted free agents.