Article content

The Ottawa Senators took of some business Sunday before the National Hockey League’s free agent frenzy gets under way.

And, as a result, defenceman Erik Brannstrom and winger Parker Kelly were both shown the door. Neither player was issued a qualifying offer to retain their rights as restricted free agents and they’ll now be able to shop themselves around when the market opens Monday at noon.

Article content

The deadline to tender the offers was 5 p.m. EST on Sunday.

The club did qualify restricted free agent centre Shane Pinto along with goaltender Mads Sogaard and Kevin Mandolese along with Belleville winger Egor Sokolov. The Senators also gave defenceman Lassi Thomson a qualifying offer, but he’s already signed overseas.

Traded to Ottawa as part of the Mark Stone deal this will end Brannstrom’s stay with the Senators. He was due a $2 million U.S. qualifying offer at 5 p.m. Sunday to retain his rights.

The decision to let Brannstrom go shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. He’s a polarizing figure because people either like the way he plays or can’t stand it. He’s an NHL player, and he’ll be able to get a one-way deal elsewhere, but the Senators weren’t able to trade him at his current salary.

The Senators have only $11.5 million in cap space heading into the opening of free agency on Canada Day at noon and letting Brannstrom creates more space. He was acquired by former GM Pierre Dorion and this management has no ties to him.

The Senators feel defenceman Tyler Kleven is ready to make the next step from the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville. The club also opted not to buyout veteran defenceman Travis Hamonic, who has one year left at $1 million, which means the club has a seventh.

Article content

The club is also expected to let Kelly test the unrestricted free agent market by not giving him an offer either. He’s a restricted free agent with rights to arbitration and after seven years in the organization the club has decided it wants to move on.

Kelly, who made $775,000 on the first one-way contract of his career, recorded eight goals and 18 points in 82 games last season. The Senators offered him a deal, but weren’t able to get anything done. He’s a solid fourth-liner and should be able to help somebody else.

The club also decided to let forward Boris Katchouk, picked up from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline on waivers, go without issuing him a qualifying offer.

The biggest name on the list to sign is Pinto.

League executives told Postmedia earlier this month that the two sides weren’t close on a long-term deal and were also exploring the option of a two-year bridge contract to get something done.

We keep hearing in league circles that Pinto’s New York-based agent Lewis Gross will be looking for an offer sheet when free agency opens. That feels like it may be a longshot because any team that signs him would have to give up a first and third-round selection if the deal is 4.57-to-$6.7 million per-year.

Pinto doesn’t have the right to file for arbitration because he doesn’t have the accrued seasons to qualify.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Article content