With training camp getting closer, the Ottawa Senators have a chance to use the PTO market to stir up some competition without making a major commitment. That kind of move can open up battles by position, bring in a veteran at no real cost, and give a player a runway to earn a contract if he can make a strong enough case.
Ottawa still has room to add more scoring depth, and a professional tryout could be the simplest way to take a swing. There are veterans out there with enough left in the tank to make the Senators a sensible landing spot, and three names stand out as possible camp invites.
David Perron is the most obvious fit on paper. The 38-year-old winger is still unsigned after being traded to the Detroit Red Wings at the deadline last season, and his familiarity with Ottawa’s room and Travis Green’s structure gives him an immediate edge. Perron could bring veteran leadership, strong work along the boards, and net-front value on the power play, making him a possible low-cost option for the bottom six if he can still produce.
Philipp Kurashev would bring a different kind of upside. At 26, he’s coming off a rough stretch in San Jose after putting up a 54-point season in Chicago two years ago.
He can play both wing and center, and his quick hands, playmaking, and transition speed would make him an intriguing fit in the middle six. A PTO would give Ottawa a chance to add competition while giving Kurashev an opportunity to show his 50-point season was no accident.
Nick Blankenburg fits as the defenseman on this list. The 28-year-old right-shot blueliner split last season between Nashville and Colorado, and he showed enough offensive touch and physical edge to stand out despite his smaller build. Since Ottawa is always looking for more right-side depth, bringing him to camp would add insurance and push the fight for a bottom-pair spot.
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