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Senators choose not to extend qualifying offer to Wiercioch

Colorado Avalanche v Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Patrick Wiercioch #46 of the Ottawa Senators skates with the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on February 11, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

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Patrick Wiercioch is now an unrestricted free agent, after the Ottawa Senators declined to extend him a qualifying offer.

This move isn’t unexpected. In fact, it was initially reported in May that the Senators likely wouldn’t qualify the 25-year-old defenseman, who had five assists in 52 games this past season.

As per General Fanager, Wiercioch made $2.7 million in NHL salary this past season, so the Senators had to match that in a qualifying offer to him. The Senators right now have $18.4 million in cap space dedicated to three defensemen -- Dion Phaneuf, Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot -- for next season.

Senators GM Pierre Dorion foreshadowed today’s news with his comments ahead of the NHL Draft.

“There is an appetite, but we have to think that it’s 2.7 [million dollars] to qualify him. Is he worth that money? Is he better off going somewhere else?” said Dorion, as per TSN. “I said we’d explore options. At 2.7 to qualify him, that’s a significant number. We’ve talked to his agent and we’ll see what happens going forward over the next 10 days.”

The club also announced it sent a qualifying offer to 22-year-old defenseman Cody Ceci, who scored 10 goals and 26 points last season and is also a restricted free agent.

While his point production has slipped from a career year of 23 points (four goals) in 53 games in 2013-14, he had strong possession numbers at even strength in three of his five seasons with Ottawa, registering a 56.8 per cent Fenwick For rating at five-on-five during the lockout-shortened 2013 season.