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Senators Alumni Pivot to New Opportunities as Free Agency Opens Fresh Roster Paths
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 4, 1:35 PM EDT

Senators Alumni Pivot to New Opportunities as Free Agency Opens Fresh Roster Paths

Former Ottawa Senators players are landing new deals across the NHL, with recent contracts aiming to keep them close to the league while they work back toward regular-season consideration.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The opening days of NHL free agency have been a reminder that the Ottawa Senators pipeline does not stop when players leave. As teams moved to fill depth and camp competition needs, multiple former Senators found new homes, including several players whose next contracts appear designed to keep them in the NHL orbit while they rebuild momentum at the pro level.

In Boston, Max Guenette is getting a fresh start after spending five seasons in Ottawa’s organization before being dealt last season in the transaction that brought Dennis Gilbert to Ottawa. Guenette, a 2019 seventh-round pick, has built a reputation as a strong AHL performer with Lehigh Valley, and the new contract gives him a different path to an NHL roster spot this fall.

Boston’s interest in that type of profile reflects a common free-agency strategy in the early weeks: use competition-season contracts to bring in players who have proven they can drive production at the minor-league level. Guenette’s recent production in the AHL is part of that story, as he recorded 24 points in 42 games for the Phantoms’ defense corps, ranking second among Lehigh Valley defensemen. The goal now is converting that type of offensive impact into enough consistency to force a longer look in Boston’s NHL lineup.

Another former Senator, Andreas Englund, is also chasing a return to a more regular NHL role. Englund established himself as a defensive option with the Los Angeles Kings during 2023-24 before his role shifted, and he was later claimed off waivers by Nashville. His new one-year deal with Calgary, reported during the early free-agency window, sets up another opportunity to compete for a spot and prove he can stay in the league beyond short call-ups.

Noah Gregor is heading to Winnipeg as he continues to search for a more permanent NHL fit. Gregor is a former Ottawa free-agent signing in 2024, then changed organizations at the trade deadline after the Senators moved him in the San Jose deal that brought Fabian Zetterlund to Ottawa. With the Jets as his fifth NHL organization since 2024, the new contract is a chance to stabilize his role and earn trust through camp and the early-season depth rotation.

The practical reality for players in Gregor’s position is that roster timing matters as much as skill. His most recent NHL season included 37 games with the Florida Panthers, showing he can still contribute at the league level when called upon. For Winnipeg, the immediate need is not just scoring but reliability in situations where games are decided by details, from line-match effectiveness to defensive structure. Gregor’s assignment, like many of the recent alumni signings, is to make that case often enough that it turns into a longer stay.

Why It Matters

  • These deals underscore how the Senators’ former player pool keeps circulating around the league, especially through contracts that offer competition-season visibility.
  • For the players involved, the difference between a short call-up and a longer NHL stay often comes down to training-camp performance and how quickly they adapt to a new team’s systems.
  • Ottawa’s broader impact is measured not only by who remains, but by how quickly alumni continue to find legitimate paths back to NHL consideration.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Multiple former Ottawa Senators players secured new contracts during the early portion of the NHL free-agency period.
  • Max Guenette signed with Boston after spending five seasons in Ottawa’s organization, including being part of the deal that brought Dennis Gilbert to Ottawa.
  • Guenette’s AHL production with Lehigh Valley included 24 points in 42 games, ranking second among Phantoms defensemen.
  • Andreas Englund signed a one-year deal with Calgary after time with Los Angeles and a later claim by Nashville.
  • Noah Gregor signed a one-year contract with Winnipeg after previously being with Ottawa in 2024 and later being traded to San Jose at the deadline.
  • Gregor played 37 NHL games with Florida in the most recent season before this new opportunity with Winnipeg.