Senators Set To Move On From Veteran Forward

The Ottawa Senators have some roster decisions to make this summer, not the least of which is what to do about a couple of pending unrestricted free agents. Namely, Claude Giroux, and Nick Cousins.

But according to a report, another one of those UFAs-to-be, 17-year veteran center Lars Eller, is one player who will certainly not be back.

Bruce Garrioch writes in the Ottawa Citizen that the Sens will be moving on from the 37-year-old (happy birthday as of yesterday, Lars).

The writing was really on the wall this past week as soon as Ottawa signed one of their pending restricted free agents, young center Stephen Halliday, to a two-year extension. He'll take those bottom-six minutes from Eller next season.

Report: Senators to move on from veteran Lars Eller

The Sens had signed Eller last July to a one-year, $1.25 million contract for some depth down the middle at the bottom of their lineup, and some Stanley Cup pedigree (he was part of the Washington Capitals' 2018 title). And while Eller provided leadership and experience, along with responsible defense, his offense dried up this season. He provided only five goals and 15 points, both career lows, and his 11:27 average ice time was his lowest since his rookie year in 2010-11.

He was counted on even less (just 8:54 TOI) in Ottawa's four-game sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

Eller will have to find another home if he is to continue his NHL career. Across 17 seasons, he's registered 193 goals and 439 points in 1,184 regular-season games, with 1,224 hits.

Veteran defenseman Nick Jensen, also a pending UFA, is not expected back as well.