Senators start free agent frenzy by dealing Chychrun, signing Perron

Published Jul 01, 2024 • Last updated 46 minutes ago • 4 minute read

File photo/ Nick Jensen Photo by Patrick Smith /Getty Images

Steve Staios kicked off Canada Day in Ottawa with some fireworks at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Not only did the Ottawa Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager start Monday by signing unrestricted free agent forward David Perron to a two-year deal, the club also dealt defenceman Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals for Nick Jensen.

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The work didn’t stop there.

The Senators signed Vegas Golden Knights forward Michael Amadio to a three-year deal at $2.6 million per season to play a key depth role while forward Noah Gregor signed a one-year, $850,000 deal.

Staios is trying to put his stamp on this team and change the culture to try to help the Senators make the playoffs for the first time in eight years. He wants to put better players around this club’s core and he feels like he made another move in the right direction.

He started the change by acquiring goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins last week and then continued by not qualifying defenceman Erik Brannstrom, winger Parker Kelly and forward Boris Katchouk at Sunday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

“I want to see us continue to improve at consistent and competitive levels,” Staios told reporters Monday afternoon. “That veteran leadership is going to help in that regard, along with our internal growth. It’s amazing what a bad year does and what you can learn from that.

“I feel our core group of players had a good chance to reflect and prepare for the upcoming season.”

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The action started Monday with the club’s long-anticipated decision to deal Chychrun. He came here in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes in March 2023, but the reality is the Senators weren’t going to be able to keep him and he’s only one season away from unrestricted free agency.

The 33-year-old Jensen is a right-shot defenceman who has two years left at $4.05 million U.S. The club also received a third-round pick in return. He’s a stay-at-home blueliner who can play in Ottawa’s top four. He had one goal and 13 assists in 78 games with the Caps last season.

Making a deal for Jensen was a better solution for the Senators than trying to sign one in free agency. The club reached out to Matt Roy (Washington), Brett Pesce (New Jersey), Brandon Montour (Seattle) and several others, but all those players were able to get better contracts elsewhere.

The Senators had to lower the asking price on Chychrun to make a deal happen before free agency got underway at noon. The club had been seeking a first- and second-round pick or a high-end prospect before the NHL draft was held last week in Vegas.

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“Jakob was a very good player for us and I was looking at an opportunity to balance out the defence. We were able to do that,” Staios said. “It’s always hard to move good players, but we were pleased with what we were able to accomplish with that trade.”

Getting Perron under contract is a key addition for the Senators. He agreed to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4 million per season.

He’ll be a strong voice in the dressing room and will help take some of the pressure of veteran leadership off Claude Giroux. Perron had 17 goals and 30 points in 76 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season.

“To be able to bring in someone with that kind of experience, success, leadership, that was an important quality that we were looking for,” Staios said. “David brings a passion for the game. We’re pleased we were able to add add him.”

Ottawa fans will remember Perron because he was suspended by the league for six games after he cross-checked Artem Zub to the head during an incident following a hit by Mathieu Joseph on Dylan Larkin last October.

The Ottawa defender was standing over top of Larkin calling for medical help from the bench when Perron cross-checked Zub. That didn’t come up during contracts talks.

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“Only after the fact when (owner) Michael Andlauer texted me that we should probably put Perron and Zub beside each other (in the dressing room) so they can sort it out,” Staios said with a smile.

You have to give Perron credit because he came to the defence of his teammate and he had no idea that Zub wasn’t involved. The Senators need the kind of player that Perron is in their dressing room because he’s not afraid to get involved.

“That action, in particular, shows the competitive spirit of the player,” Staios said.

The 28-year-old Amadio, who spent the last three seasons with Knights and won a Stanley Cup, will help the club’s depth on the right wing. He can play all three forward positions and is referred to by his teammates as “Swiss Army Knife” because of his versatility.

Amadio, a natural centre, had 14 goals and 27 points in 73 games with Vegas last season. He can play the point on the power play.

A league source told this newspaper that 12 teams reached out to Amadio’s Toronto-based agent Joe Resnick when the free agency period opened.

Amadio will get an even bigger role if the Senators are able to move Joseph before training camp gets underway in September.

“We like the versatility of Michael. He’s experienced and he’s a Cup champion,” Staios said. “As we went through it, and looked what he could provide for us, he’s someone that can move up and down the lineup. He can play in multiple positions.”

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