Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Report: Ottawa’s ‘kicked tires’ on Russell, Seidenberg

Calgary Flames v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 19: Kris Russell #4 of the Calgary Flames looks on beforoe a face off against the New Jersey Devils on January 19,2016 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Senators’ blueline isn’t especially deep, so it came as little surprise on Monday that GM Pierre Dorion said he wanted to add some competition at the position.

“On the back end, I’d like it to be a healthy competition for roster spots so either we’re still looking at bring someone on a PTO,” Dorion said, per the Ottawa Sun. “Or, at this point in time, maybe something more depending on what players are looking for.”

According to the Sun, the Sens have “kicked tires” on arguably the two biggest UFA defensemen left on the market -- Dennis Seidenberg and Kris Russell.

But they might not land in the Canadian capital.

Seidenberg reportedly wants a contract prior to training camp, not a professional tryout. One would have to assume the same goes for Russell, who at one point was rumored to be in line for a major payday.

At current glance, Ottawa is rolling with Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, Marc Methot, Cody Ceci, Mark Borowiecki, Chris Wideman and Fredrik Claesson as its seven defensemen for the year. The trouble spots, obviously, would be the bottom two -- Wideman, a quality producer at the AHL level, is just 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds with only 64 games of NHL experience.

Claesson, 23, has even less experience, having only appeared in 16 career contests.