Garrioch: Which free agents do Sens want?
The Senators likely won’t be big spenders when the free-agent sweepstakes begin July 1.
After being first out of the gate last July 1 by signing defenceman Sergei Gonchar to a three-year, $16.5-million deal, the Senators could take a wait-and-see attitude.
While the Senators have only $43 million committed in salary to 15 players, they’ll be working harder to get to the $48.3-million floor than even coming close to the $64.3-million cap that’s been set for the final year of the CBA.
The needs are simple:
No. 1: The Senators could use another forward, maybe one who has scored 20 goals in the NHL. The decision to get Nikita Filatov from the Blue Jackets for a third-round pick was a good one that could pay dividends.
The Senators hope to have a healthy Daniel Alfredsson after off-season surgery. It would make sense for winger Bobby Butler to get the chance to start on a line with Jason Spezza, but the second line is a work in progress.
One of the priorities is character. Brooks Laich could have been a good fit, but decided to re-sign with Washington on Tuesday.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/06/28/which-free-agents-do-sens-want