Next years cap/roster

[LiseL]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chabot eventually traded if there's a hockey deal out there. If Norris plays well enough then same thing, but that seems less likely.

At $10M a year, he'd have to be playing very well and not be injured for extended periods of time for that to happen. But if he was playing that well, would they want to trade him? Also have to be to a team that's not on his No Trade list. Unlikely IMO but what do I know?

 

[Cosmix]

Kleven & Grieg will be RFAs next year, so those numbers are low. However, we might end up with a less expensive backup goalie.

Also, Giroux and his $6.5 m is still in this 2025-26 spreadsheet, so there could be a change there. I’ve kept him there as a placeholder.

So, in summary, yes it looks OK to me so far unless there’s some surprises.

Giroux should be orange as a placeholder.

 

[UglyPuckling]

Giroux should be orange as a placeholder.

I had already put UFA in brackets besides Giroux’s name, but yes - done.

 

[OttawaSenators11]

If this team doesn’t make the playoffs we better not have that roster above ^ I’ll be sick to my stomach.

Core needs to be dismantled.

 

[SENStastic]

I had already put UFA in brackets besides Giroux’s name, but yes - done.

View attachment 915838

Giroux shouldn't be back at the same number, 5m tops on 1 year deal. Perron was such a stupid signing from the get go, dude can't keep up at all and he's even going to be slower next year. Imagine the pain watching him chase every single play always being 5 feet behind. Glad we paid 4m to have the pleasure of witnessing that every game.

Chabot should to be traded asap, his cap hit is way too high, he seems to be getting worse in his prime years not better, needs to be replaced with someone cheaper. Kleven should not be paired with Yak, he has to have a legit vet Dman mentoring him instead, not an AHL caliber Hamonic or a completely inexperienced rookie compounding their mistakes.

I'd leave Yak down to season an additional year so he improves his skating and defensive game more before bringing him up, he actually has a chance to turn into a real impact player if he develops properly, we should be patient a little with him and let him round out his game more first.

 

[UglyPuckling]

Giroux shouldn't be back at the same number, 5m tops on 1 year deal. Perron was such a stupid signing from the get go, dude can't keep up at all and he's even going to be slower next year. Imagine the pain watching him chase every single play always being 5 feet behind. Glad we paid 4m to have the pleasure of witnessing that every game.

Chabot should to be traded asap, his cap hit is way too high, he seems to be getting worse in his prime years not better, needs to be replaced with someone cheaper. Kleven should not be paired with Yak, he has to have a legit vet Dman mentoring him instead, not an AHL caliber Hamonic or a completely inexperienced rookie compounding their mistakes.

I'd leave Yak down to season an additional year so he improves his skating and defensive game more before bringing him up, he actually has a chance to turn into a real impact player if he develops properly, we should be patient a little with him and let him round out his game more first.

Just to clarify, my focus is directed to the numbers versus what the roster should be.

I ask for, and get suggestions from other posters, and then incorporate them into the next iteration of the spreadsheet. The main idea is to see if a roster will be cap compliant.

Seeing as how we would be cap compliant even with Giroux’s current cap hit, I left Giroux’s cap hit at the current $6.5 m just to see if it works and if we will still be cap compliant. You can think of this as having $6.5 m for Giroux or another player that would replace Giroux. I suspect you are correct in that if Giroux is re-signed, it will be at a lower number and will also be potentially a shorter term as well.

There’s numerous ideas about roster construction, so it would be hard to create a spreadsheet for every idea. You may be already aware of all of this, so mea culpa if I’m being redundant. I’ll wait a bit to see what other suggestions (or more optimistically consensus) arise, and then produce another spreadsheet iteration. I suspect an adjustment will be made to Giroux’s cell.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

It's a short sample size since page 1, but Giroux is not looking like a 5M-6.5M type player.

He is looking like a year to year player. If they need an avenue for extra cap space next season, they could go 1 year with a low base salary, and give him a majority of his money through paper signing bonuses. Take whatever number is fair, 3M, 4M, 5M, whatever. Let's say it's 4M. 1M base salary, 3M bonus at 5GP.

That way, most of his cap is pushed to 2026-27.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Just over 13.000 to re-sign Gregor, Giroux, Greig, a backup, and two spares.

Some estimates:
5.000 to Giroux
2.500 to Greig
2.000 to McBackup
1.500 to Gregor
1.000 to Roster #19
1.000 to Roster #20
Total: 13.000

The Sens should have no issue with the cap next year. There's some areas they can save in (cheaper backup or #19/20 for example) if needed.

 

[Inf4mous0ne]

It's a short sample size since page 1, but Giroux is not looking like a 5M-6.5M type player.

He is looking like a year to year player. If they need an avenue for extra cap space next season, they could go 1 year with a low base salary, and give him a majority of his money through paper signing bonuses. Take whatever number is fair, 3M, 4M, 5M, whatever. Let's say it's 4M. 1M base salary, 3M bonus at 5GP.

That way, most of his cap is pushed to 2026-27.

Agreed, has looked slow out of the gate, regardless of the goal yesterday. Hoping if he does come back its more at the $3-$4M range (likely $4M, probably hard to pay him less than Perron).

 

[Inf4mous0ne]

View attachment 916855

Just over 13.000 to re-sign Gregor, Giroux, Greig, a backup, and two spares.

Some estimates:
5.000 to Giroux
2.500 to Greig
2.000 to McBackup
1.500 to Gregor
1.000 to Roster #19
1.000 to Roster #20
Total: 13.000

The Sens should have no issue with the cap next year. There's some areas they can save in (cheaper backup or #19/20 for example) if needed.

Yup, not sure why Bruce was talking about potential cap issues earlier, think it should be fine.

 

[Sting]

It really feels like we're going to need 1-2 guys who can play in the top 6 as soon as next year. I'm not confident Giroux/Perron can manage that given their age. Even now, Perron is more of a 3rd liner for us, but Giroux is counted on to be a 1RW at 36 (turning 37 soon).

I assume they foresee Greig slotting in to the 2LW spot long-term. That being the case, I think it's reasonable to expect us wanting a top 6 RWer.

Hard not to look at what Dorion did to our prospect pool/assets and shake your head. We'd need to draft one and develop him for about 4 years before a top 6 forward can contribute unless we sign an UFA or trade another high pick for one.

 

[SENStastic]

It really feels like we're going to need 1-2 guys who can play in the top 6 as soon as next year. I'm not confident Giroux/Perron can manage that given their age. Even now, Perron is more of a 3rd liner for us, but Giroux is counted on to be a 1RW at 36 (turning 37 soon).

I assume they foresee Greig slotting in to the 2LW spot long-term. That being the case, I think it's reasonable to expect us wanting a top 6 RWer.

Hard not to look at what Dorion did to our prospect pool/assets and shake your head. We'd need to draft one and develop him for about 4 years before a top 6 forward can contribute unless we sign an UFA or trade another high pick for one.

Yep we definitely need to acquire 2 top 6 talents in the next couple years, and it can't be through the draft, by the time they are ready to jump up and contribute meaningfully it would be very late given our current crop, unless we get incredibly lucky and draft a kid that far exceeds expectations right off the bat. It will most likely have to be through FA or a trade, we can't afford to wait anymore.

Doesn't mean we should have a barren cupboard either though, we need a steady stream of NHL caliber players with high talent potential ready to make the jump every year or two going forward, especially ones still on cheap ELCs. We need better drafting but can't rely on that entirely in the immediate term.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

We don't have cap issues next year in terms of retaining our current team, but I think it is fair to say that we may not have enough cap flexibility to improve the team externally without some cap gymnastics like we saw this offseason (Boston taking Korpisalo, Joseph paired with a 3rd, Chychrun sold for pennies on the dollar to get the RHD we needed back in a close to cap in/out trade).

A Korpisalo buyout in Boston, and Giroux signing a performance bonus based contract (with easily attainable bonuses) could get us some extra cap to add a player.

They aren't at risk of losing any player as the roster stands now, but I think there is a risk that they won't have the cap flexibility to make moves the team needs to make. Even this off season, after all the cap gymnastics, a lot of people still were concerned about our backup goalie and bottom pair D. Both of which have proven to be an issue.

 

[DrEasy]

We don't have cap issues next year in terms of retaining our current team, but I think it is fair to say that we may not have enough cap flexibility to improve the team externally without some cap gymnastics like we saw this offseason (Boston taking Korpisalo, Joseph paired with a 3rd, Chychrun sold for pennies on the dollar to get the RHD we needed back in a close to cap in/out trade).

A Korpisalo buyout in Boston, and Giroux signing a performance bonus based contract (with easily attainable bonuses) could get us some extra cap to add a player.

They aren't at risk of losing any player as the roster stands now, but I think there is a risk that they won't have the cap flexibility to make moves the team needs to make. Even this off season, after all the cap gymnastics, a lot of people still were concerned about our backup goalie and bottom pair D. Both of which have proven to be an issue.

For next year, can we replace Giroux + Forsberg (minus minimum salary backup goalie to replace him) + ideally Korpisalo buyout, so, say $8M/yr, with someone better than Giroux? Mind you it doesn't seem like there will be anybody interesting as RW in free agency next year. Marner or Rantanen will cost way too much and after that there's a big drop off it seems.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

For next year, can we replace Giroux + Forsberg (minus minimum salary backup goalie to replace him) + ideally Korpisalo buyout, so, say $8M/yr, with someone better than Giroux? Mind you it doesn't seem like there will be anybody interesting as RW in free agency next year. Marner or Rantanen will cost way too much and after that there's a big drop off it seems.

I can't see us getting rid of Giroux, it's just a question of what AAV is appropriate if his level of play declines.

We aren't going to be a player for a legitimate free agent. We will have to make a trade, or overpay a veteran on a short-term deal like we did with Perron.

92.4M Cap, 17M cap space, 13 players signed.
Kleven+Greig = 4.5M or so

That leaves 12.5M for Giroux, a backup goalie, and to fill 6 roster spots.

Looking at an optimal situation where Korpisalo is bought out and Giroux will sign for a low base salary with paper performance bonuses that he will easily reach, maybe we could have 10 or 11 million for a backup goalie and 6 skaters.

Even in an optimal scenario, I think we will have more needs than we can fill cap wise. But I also think with our lack of assets and us not being a prime free agency destination, it would be pretty hard to tick all the boxes and fill all of our needs.

 

[UglyPuckling]

I can't see us getting rid of Giroux, it's just a question of what AAV is appropriate if his level of play declines.

We aren't going to be a player for a legitimate free agent. We will have to make a trade, or overpay a veteran on a short-term deal like we did with Perron.

92.4M Cap, 17M cap space, 13 players signed.
Kleven+Greig = 4.5M or so

That leaves 12.5M for Giroux, a backup goalie, and to fill 6 roster spots.

Looking at an optimal situation where Korpisalo is bought out and Giroux will sign for a low base salary with paper performance bonuses that he will easily reach, maybe we could have 10 or 11 million for a backup goalie and 6 skaters.

Even in an optimal scenario, I think we will have more needs than we can fill cap wise. But I also think with our lack of assets and us not being a prime free agency destination, it would be pretty hard to tick all the boxes and fill all of our needs.

With the roster and salaries identified in the spreadsheet below, I see us being about $500 k under cap.

Some of the assumptions for the spreadsheet are:

• Several players signed over this summer return to the 2025-26 lineup
• $5 m for Giroux or a replacement
• Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk are roster players
• Grieg & Kleven get $4.75 m
• $2 m allotted for a backup goalie.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

With the roster and salaries identified in the spreadsheet below, I see us being about $500 k under cap.

Some of the assumptions for the spreadsheet are:

• Several players signed over this summer return to the 2025-26 lineup
• $5 m for Giroux or a replacement
• Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk are roster players
• Grieg & Kleven get $4.75 m
• $2 m allotted for a backup goalie.

View attachment 917325

That's roughly how I would see it on the high end of things. Even if one of Greig, Giroux, Kleven, or the backup gets more or less than what you stated, they probably add up to being around 12-13 million on the high end.

Like I said, they might get lucky with a Korpisalo buyout+Giroux being willing to take a contract with "fake" performance bonuses (play 5 games, etc). That could buy them 3 or 4 million to go out and get a veteran #5 defenseman in a trade. Likely, one on the way out somewhere else that has limited term or by overpaying a veteran in free agency like they did with Perron.

As I said before, I think a fair assessment is not that they are in a cap crunch that would prevent them from maintaining their roster, but that once they do re-sign everybody they won't have cap flexibility to improve the roster. They are going to have to look internally for improvements (Yak, Sogaard, Kleven, the glut of forwards on the fringe of breaking into the NHL, etc) - or they are going to have to try to find diamonds in the rough with trades like the ones Staios made this summer with Edmonton and Utah where they all swapped fringe NHL prospects.

 

[DrEasy]

With the roster and salaries identified in the spreadsheet below, I see us being about $500 k under cap.

Some of the assumptions for the spreadsheet are:

• Several players signed over this summer return to the 2025-26 lineup
• $5 m for Giroux or a replacement
• Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk are roster players
• Grieg & Kleven get $4.75 m
• $2 m allotted for a backup goalie.

View attachment 917325

I think I'd rather re-allocate an extra $1M from what is allocated to the backup goalie to an improvement over Giroux next year. I just find it hard to find one though lol.

 

[UglyPuckling]

I think I'd rather re-allocate an extra $1M from what is allocated to the backup goalie to an improvement over Giroux next year. I just find it hard to find one though lol.

Your post prompted me to do a little research on what the average salary of a NHL backup goalie is. I didn’t see a lot of info on the subject, but did find one article - see below. The Dallas Stars studied this back in 2018 and concluded that the average was $1.35 m. But, that was 2018, so not sure what it would be now.

It seems like 1 million would be a little light, but I suppose it depends on the solution. If they go with an internal candidate, it could be less expensive. It would have been nice to find some more current info on backup salaries.

Dallas Stars: Determining Value Of A Backup Goaltender

The right backup goaltender can be the difference between making the playoffs and staying home. That's why the Dallas Stars must make the right decision.

blackoutdallas.com

 

[DrEasy]

Your post prompted me to do a little research on what the average salary of a NHL backup goalie is. I didn’t see a lot of info on the subject, but did find one article - see below. The Dallas Stars studied this back in 2018 and concluded that the average was $1.35 m. But, that was 2018, so not sure what it would be now.

It seems like 1 million would be a little light, but I suppose it depends on the solution. If they go with an internal candidate, it could be less expensive. It would have been nice to find some more current info on backup salaries.

Dallas Stars: Determining Value Of A Backup Goaltender

The right backup goaltender can be the difference between making the playoffs and staying home. That's why the Dallas Stars must make the right decision.

blackoutdallas.com

Yeah, I had in mind a guy like Reimer ($1M), or Bussi (less than that) who were available this year, or one of our own internal options (god forbid, although by next year I hope Meri is ready).

I'm basically willing to have our backup goalie be a weakness (and it already is weak AND is expensive too!) if my top line RW can be strength. I'm just generally against paying two goalies too much total $$$, since at any given game of them is riding the bench.

 

[UglyPuckling]

Yeah, I had in mind a guy like Reimer ($1M), or Bussi (less than that) who were available this year, or one of our own internal options (god forbid, although by next year I hope Meri is ready).

I'm basically willing to have our backup goalie be a weakness (and it already is weak AND is expensive too!) if my top line RW can be strength. I'm just generally against paying two goalies too much total $$$, since at any given game of them is riding the bench.

Yes, a lot of different ways to do it for sure. It's for Staois to figure out & I’m glad it's not me.

 

[OmniSens]

If Sogaard isn't the fulltime backup next season, it's time to move on from him.

 

[Tuna99]

With the roster and salaries identified in the spreadsheet below, I see us being about $500 k under cap.

Some of the assumptions for the spreadsheet are:

• Several players signed over this summer return to the 2025-26 lineup
• $5 m for Giroux or a replacement
• Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk are roster players
• Grieg & Kleven get $4.75 m
• $2 m allotted for a backup goalie.

View attachment 917325

Giroux will be a 1 year $3 million, he’s already made $100 million USD for his career and he’s not in a great negotiating spot. He’s losing down and won’t want to move.
JBD at $1.5 and he’ll be well worth it

 

[bicboi64]

With Perron and Giroux getting older and shifting to the 2nd line, there's a great opportunity for some of our winger prospects to show that they can produce in the NHL. Not that we're rich with forward prospects but if a guy like Halliday can make some noise it'd be awesome

 

[Cosmix]

Giroux shouldn't be back at the same number, 5m tops on 1 year deal. Perron was such a stupid signing from the get go, dude can't keep up at all and he's even going to be slower next year. Imagine the pain watching him chase every single play always being 5 feet behind. Glad we paid 4m to have the pleasure of witnessing that every game.

Chabot should to be traded asap, his cap hit is way too high, he seems to be getting worse in his prime years not better, needs to be replaced with someone cheaper. Kleven should not be paired with Yak, he has to have a legit vet Dman mentoring him instead, not an AHL caliber Hamonic or a completely inexperienced rookie compounding their mistakes.

I'd leave Yak down to season an additional year so he improves his skating and defensive game more before bringing him up, he actually has a chance to turn into a real impact player if he develops properly, we should be patient a little with him and let him round out his game more first.

I was not high on the Perron signing either; I am still waiting to see $4M worth of value.

I miss Joseph too; I like his speed and truculence.

With Perron and Giroux getting older and shifting to the 2nd line, there's a great opportunity for some of our winger prospects to show that they can produce in the NHL. Not that we're rich with forward prospects but if a guy like Halliday can make some noise it'd be awesome

It would be awesome if Halliday were to become a top 6 player; I am not confident he will.

Giroux will be a 1 year $3 million, he’s already made $100 million USD for his career and he’s not in a great negotiating spot. He’s losing down and won’t want to move.
JBD at $1.5 and he’ll be well worth it

Yes, Giroux might play at a $3M salary level given his advancing age.