Inside look at Ottawa Senators

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, the Ottawa Senators.

The Ottawa Senators are determined to become younger and faster this season, but the uncertain future of three veterans may cloud that focus.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson, 28, forward Mark Stone, 26, and center Matt Duchene, 27, each could become an unrestricted free agent after this season, leaving the Senators with plenty of important decisions ahead of them.
"Whatever direction we're going, we need core players to be part of that," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "You have to have core players. All I can tell you, and I can tell our fans, is we're going to be greatly improved this season]. It's not going to be a team full of young players, but I think, if you find the right mix of good veterans and good prospects, I think we'll be a competitive, faster team."
***[Senators 31 IN 31: [3 Questions | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]*
Dorion often uses the word "disappointment" to describe their 28-43-11, 67-point season, their worst since they had 41 points (18-59-5) in 1995-96.
Whether Karlsson is part of Ottawa's resurgence remains to be seen; the Senators offered a long-term contract to their captain July 1, but no agreement has been reached on an extension. The two-time Norris Trophy winner as the top defenseman in the NHL (2012, 2015) had 62 points (nine goals, 53 assists) in 71 games last season to tie Stone for the Ottawa scoring lead.
"We owe it to our fans and we made a promise at the town halls that we would make a contract offer to Erik Karlsson," Dorion said then.

Ottawa fans must wait to see if Karlsson is signed long term or traded, but one trade the Senators did make was acquiring forward Mikkel Boedker from the San Jose Sharks in a four-player trade involving forward Mike Hoffman, who later that day was traded to the Florida Panthers.
The trade came a week after the Ottawa Citizen reported Hoffman's fiancee was accused of harassment and cyberbullying Melinda Karlsson, Erik's wife.
Boedker, who had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 74 games with the Sharks last season, is expected to play on Ottawa's first line with Stone and Duchene. The Senators signed Stone, who's scored at least 20 goals in each of his past four NHL seasons, to a one-year, $7.35 million contract Aug. 3 and continue to discuss an extension.
"We're really happy with the number, and both sides are really happy to have the opportunity to try and work something out long term," Stone said.
Duchene, who had 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games last season, has one year remaining on a five-year contract he signed with the Colorado Avalanche on July 18, 2013, and is open to a long-term future in Ottawa.

"All I can say is I am encouraged by what I see in here," Duchene said, "and I think that this could be a very great spot for me to end up for a long time … if they want to have me."
As part of the three-team trade that brought Duchene to the Senators on Nov. 5, Ottawa had the option of sending its first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft to the Avalanche, or keeping the pick and giving Colorado its first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Senators kept the pick and selected Boston University forward Brady Tkachuk at No. 4.
Tkachuk, viewed by the Senators as a building block for future success, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Aug. 13.
"I think I can compete right away," he said.
Tkachuk, 18, defenseman Thomas Chabot, 21, and forwards Logan Brown, 20, and Colin White, 21, are considered the foundations for the Senators rebuild. All that remains is the waiting game to see if Karlsson, Stone and Duchene will be part of it.