Re-signing RFA defenseman Cody Ceci counts as the glaring remaining task on the Ottawa Senators’ to-do list, but still-new GM Pierre Dorion isn’t worried.
(At least not publicly.)
Dorion believes that he can get something done with Ceci’s agent J.P. Barry, as TSN’s Ian Mendes reports.
“I think JP’s trying to test me as a first time GM, even though I’ve done quite bit of contracts before,” Dorion said jokingly. “I think he’ll be playing for us October 12th. I think within the next few weeks we’ll get something done.”
Dorion reiterates the earlier word that the Senators have discussed a variety of possible deals with Ceci, from shorter “bridge” deals to longer-term agreements.
There are multiple reasonable comparisons for the 22-year-old defenseman who set career-highs in goals (10) and points (26) last season.
The Hockey Writers’ Chris Crawford makes one of the better comparisons in Mathew Dumba, a fellow 2012 first-rounder who received a bridge deal (two years, $5.1 million) in late July.
However the Ceci deal works out, Dorion noted that he’d like to add a “capable” veteran blueliner to Ottawa’s mix.
... Making him like just about every other GM in the league, but still.