Senators Quiet July 1, Waiting On Giroux

The ball is in Claude Giroux’s court to return to the Ottawa Senators and the 38-year-old holds all the cards. After failing to agree, Giroux hit the free agent market at noon Wednesday. Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere admitted speaking with Giroux’s camp during his media availability, but at this juncture, there was nothing in place.

Thus we turn to Senators general manager Steve Staios, who told assembled media, including Hockey Hot Stove, during a power outage at the Canadian Tire Centre, “Yeah, ‘G’, you know, I think we’ve stated how much we want him back. We’ve been unwavering in our message to him, offered him a contract as far back as before the trade deadline, and he wanted to take a look around in free agency, but hasn’t closed the door to come back to Ottawa.”

After July 1 signings of forward Nick Cousins and goaltender Samuel Ersson, the Senators have $5.2 million of salary cap space remaining, with a portion being held for the veteran leader. Staios explained, “I mean, for us, there’s also a reason why I’m not active today. Obviously, that spot is reserved for him, and I’m eagerly anticipating, waiting to have a conversation with him.”

With 1450 games, including playoffs, under his belt, Giroux still maintains a high compete level. He’s still one of the best faceoff men in the league, produces (49 points last season), and is a leader on the club.

While it was fairly quiet on the opening day of free agency for the Senators, it wasn’t all for naught.

Nick Cousins re-ups

Staios re-ups pesky forward Nick Cousins to a two-year contract which carries a $1.5875M average annual value. The 32-year-old is fresh off a solid season, notching nine goals and 14 assists in 81 games, and analytically posted a 52.0% Corsi and 56.0% Expected Goals, while playing in the Senators bottom six.

“Nick has proven his value to our hockey club over the past two seasons. He brings Stanley Cup-winning experience and is an important player inside our dressing room,” Staios noted in a media release.

Samuel Ersson agrees to a deal

After Ersson’s playing rights were acquired from the Maple Leafs on the day of the Entry Draft in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, the Senators chose not to issue a $1.6M qualifying offer to the pending restricted free agent goaltender.

Staios elected to allow Ersson to head to unrestricted free agent. The Senators GM noted the 26-year-old held arbitration rights and would’ve filed if the QO was issued. Sources believe the former Flyers netminder could’ve received an award in the vicinity of $2.5M due to filling a backup role and due to the salary cap rising.

The goalie received a two-year deal containing a $2.2M AAV. While many consider this a high cost for Ersson on the basis of his subpar 2024-25 season, a 3.14 GAA, .870 save percentage belies this, Staios remains confident the Swede is a fit for Ottawa.

Senators goalie coach Justin Peters and goalie development coach Maciej Szwoch have been granted the say on the team’s goaltending, and the duo thinks Ersson is yet to reach his ceiling.

Staios stated, “I told you that we’re going to engage in a different process and have real goalie people involved in the process, and what they came in with is that they’re excited about Samuel Ersson and the upside that he has. You’d have to ask them on the technical side of things, and that’s why they’re there, but certainly they have great belief that he’s going to be a good number two, and continue to push, and we love his potential.”

Two-way signings

With an eye towards aiding their American League Belleville squad, the Senators signed five players to two-way contracts.

Forward Sammy Blais inked a two-year, two-way deal which carries a $925,000 AAV at the NHL level with a $437,500 AHL salary. Blais is a veteran of 278 NHL games, splitting last season with Montreal and Toronto, where he totalled 21 games, producing three goals and five assists. The 30-year-old was a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup-winning St. Louis Blues, playing 203 games with the team. Blais has a shot at cracking the Senators roster as the 13th man or in a fourth line role.

After playing last season on an AHL deal, forward Philippe Daoust inked a one-year, two-way contract. Selected 158th overall by the Senators in the 2020 Draft, the 24-year-old had hso best campaign with the organization in 2024-25, registering 14 goals and 36 assists. Daoust’s contract is $850,000 at the NHL level, $250,000 AHL.

If Ryan Suzuki’s name sounds familiar, it is. The Hurricanes 2019 first-round pick is the brother of Canadiens ‘ Nick. Suzuki is known as a playmaking centre who’s garnered 82 assists the over the past seasons with the AHL Chicago Wolves. The London, ON resident played two games for the Hurricanes last season. Suzuki is represented by player agent Dave Gagner, the father of Senators director of player development Sam. Suzuki’s contract calls for $850,000 at the NHL level, $450,000 in the AHL.

Selected 24th overall in the 2019 Draft by the Penguins, forward Philip Tomasino is coming off a disappointing season. Earning $1.75M on a one-year deal, Tomasino played only nine games for Pittsburgh in 2024-25. The Mississauga resident ended up splitting the campaign with AHL Wilkes-Barre and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after being dealt to the Flyers on New Year’s Eve. Tomasino posted 41 points in 52 AHL games. Over five NHL campaigns, Tomasino has recorded 95 points (34 goals, 61 assists) in 218 games. Tomasino’s contract carries an NHL cap hit of $900,000, a lofty $600,000 AHL.

Traded by the Stars to the Flyers in October, defenseman Christian Kyrou played well in an offensive defenseman role for Lehigh Valley, producing 10 goals and 24 assists. The Stars 2022 second-rounder is also represented by player agent Dave Gagner, and like Ryan Suzuki, has a brother playing in the NHL. Brother Jordan was recently acquired by the Capitals. Kyrou will earn $850,000 at the NHL level, $160,000 in the AHL.

More moves to follow?

While the Senators GM hopes to receive a decision from Giroux in the very near future, Staios is keeping a close eye on the trade market. This group of free agents wasn’t particularly a strong one and several big name players were moved Wednesday. Expect this to continue in the coming days.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position now where we have great flexibility and draft capital. Oftentimes the way I see the market right now is that there could be some opportunities to come.”

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