ONE DRAFT DOWN, TWO TO GO
Hoffman, Ceci deals next up for Sens
There won’t be any rest for Senators GM Pierre Dorion.
After wrapping up the NHL draft Saturday at the First Niagara Center, he’ll have plenty of work to do when he gets back to his desk Monday morning at the Canadian Tire Centre.
In an interview after the draft Saturday, Dorion indicated first up on his list is trying to get restricted free agent winger Mike Hoffman and defenceman Cody Ceci signed to new deals as soon as possible. As a formality, both will have to be given qualifying offers by Monday at 5 p.m. to retain their rights.
“The two biggest priorities, is trying to get a deal with Mike Hoffman done and avoiding arbitration if we can, and … getting a deal done with Cody Ceci. Hopefully, we see that in the next few weeks with both of them,” Dorion said. “With Mike, it’s the middle to the end of the July, (depending on) the arbitration date with Cody.”
It’s believed the Senators have discussed deals with Ceci that are either two years or six years, and Dorion believes they’re progressing. As for Hoffman, it’s a different story and there’s silence on those talks.
Did he sit down with his representatives and are more meetings planned?
“Yes and yes, and that’s as much as I’m saying,” Dorion said.
“The one thing with Mike Liut and Octagon, when we did Marc Methot two years ago, there was no chatter, we worked on it for about a month and we got a deal done.
“For us, to get it done — we’ve both agreed not doing it through the media is the best way. We both want to get a contract done, more than a year just to avoid arbitration, so that’s why we’re trying to work together.”
That may be a little more information than Dorion intended to provide, but the reality is nobody has any idea what Hoffman is demanding on an extension or the term the two sides are talking about.
He made $2 million last season, scored 29 goals and is going to get a healthy raise. That point isn’t debatable.
One way or another, Hoffman is going to be at training camp because he may end up with a oneyear deal if this lands in arbitration, and according to Dorion, he’s going to be surrounded by familiar faces.
Free agency may be fast approaching, but Dorion isn’t expecting to make massive changes or spend big money to sign players.
“I like our top six forwards, I like our top four defence. If we’re going to add anything, we’re going to add a role player through trade or free agency or a fifth or sixth defenceman through a trade or free agency,” Dorion said.
With qualifying offers due to restricted free agents, the Senators will have decisions to make. The two biggest ones will be on defenceman Patrick Wiercioch and winger Alex Chiasson. They’ve already indicated to Wiercioch he likely won’t be back and they spent all weekend trying to move Chiasson.
“We’re still debating a few things on QO’s and there’s still trade talks going about the two guys you’re talking about,” Dorion said.
Dorion is trying to give both players a chance to go elsewhere, get a fresh start and a good opportunity to play.
“They’re both NHL players and you don’t want to give up on NHL players, but certain players don’t work with certain teams,” Dorion said. “We saw it with (Carl) Hagelin with Anaheim, it didn’t work and in Pittsburgh he helped them get a Cup.
“I’m not saying it’s a similar case for Chiasson and Wiercioch, but with those two guys they’re NHL players. Patrick Wiercioch was one of the better players on Team Canada last year at the world championships and Alex Chiasson when he came in was one of our best forwards. Sometimes, things go wrong and we can’t control that. Sometimes, one coach likes a player more than certain players, but we can’t control that. They’re NHL players. Not that we’re asking the world for them, we just want a reasonable return.”
Chiasson is a more difficult call because three or four teams are interested and he requires $1.2 million, while Wiercioch is $2.7 million.
Dorion said he tried to make several deals and none came to fruition.
“I thought this would be a draft with way more activity than happened,” Dorion said. “I was at the GMs meeting, it was my first one, but everybody was talking with everybody. I left there and I said, ‘I don’t have a few irons in the fire, I have quite a few,’ and made one deal involving picks more than anything else.
“One thing I’ve learned from (senior adviser) Bryan (Murray) is it’s really tough to make deals. We’re trying to make hockey deals and it’s more difficult.”