Preview of the 2026 Free Player Class of the Ottawa Senator – Hockey Writer – Ottawa Senator
As we approach August, it is safe to assume that the Ottawa Senator’s business was completed when signing and retaining free agents. They gained several unrestricted free agents in Lars Eller and Arthur Kaliyev and re-signed most of the free agents they prioritized in terms of retention. This includes Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins and Tyler Kleven.
There are still a handful of restricted free agents (RFAs) to handle, but these situations may be resolved later in the summer. However, there are several players currently eligible for extensions, which will be here on July 1 next year before you know it. At the moment, nothing is coming, why don’t we look at some of the pending free agents for the Senators in 2026?
Giroux, Cousins and Merilainen
Giroux, Cousins and Leevi Merilainen all signed a year-long deal this summer, so decisions about the organization’s future must be made soon. Giroux and Cousins are most likely to sign a one-year deal from now on this period. In addition, Merilainen does have the opportunity to go to Ottawa for a long time.
He is an RFA who will earn $1.05 million this season, played 12 games last season, with a small sample size. His numbers are better than Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg, and one can make the argument that the Senator would better not give him to a minor to make room for Fosberg. Interestingly, he has a bigger workload this season and how much salary increase he will propose after this season.
Veterans
General Manager (General Manager) Steve Staios will have to keep an eye on his veterans in Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller and Nick Jensen, all over 35 and playing in a prolonged deal. They are incredibly variable players, they bring a lot on the ice and on the ice, and it’s very likely that there’s no emergency to sign them into another contract as they won’t be expensive.
All of these players obviously love Ottawa enough to sign once, and given the organization’s trajectory is moving forward, it’s easy to predict that all of these players will likely return after a deeper playoff game. Given Jensen’s current injury status and his identity will be at the end of the season, it may be an exception to that rule.
Shane Pinto
Shane Pinto is a major RFA that needs to be extended on July 1. He is still young, only 23 years old, and last season, despite mainly deploying the third inning, but didn’t see much time for the strong game, but last season’s goal ranking fourth. He is another player and can be said to be beyond the current depth map.
It is very likely that he could push Dylan to a second-tier center job, and if he did that, it would certainly be good for him. For example, Cozens is currently making $7.1 million and has a rising ceiling, and Pinto will certainly be eager to impress and consolidate his role.
Related: Revisiting Ottawa Senators’ Draft Class of 2022
Pinto can also move it out of its wings to defend itself and gain more offensive opportunities. However, his third row with Ridley Greig and Michael Amadio works very well and on their right side in many nights of games, so there is an element that doesn’t mess up something that doesn’t ruin while playing.
Staios must think in advance
It is obvious that, so far, Staios has been known to handle his free agency business in the summer, with some exceptions. For example, Pinto signed with his suspension in January 2024 and signed Ullmark before the 2024-25 season began.
However, in 2026, there are already a lot to consider and Staios will have to realize that because of the performance of the upcoming season. While you do want to focus on the tasks at hand and make your current lineup better, just like GM, your responsibility is also taking care of the long-term future of the franchise.
