Breaking: Sens key player says he doesn't want to play in Ottawa anymore!

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HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Breaking: Sens key player says he doesn't want to play in Ottawa anymore!
Zuma Press

Alright, we are still waiting for some good news concerning the Ottawa Senators, and it surely won't be general manager Pierre Dorion who will be bringing them forward... In an interview with David Amber and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet during a preseason broadcast of the Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs game on Tuesday night, Dorion gave the most ridiculous answer to a question. When asked what he was most optimistic about heading into the upcoming season, Dorion stared off into the distance as if he couldn't think of a single thing... It felt like his brain completely shut off for a moment.

Then, he answered... 

"We're a team."


You may be a team, Pierre, however, one of your star players has reportedly said he does not want to play in Ottawa anymore, according to NHL insider Louis Jean of TVA Sports. 

"That's it, Mark Stone does not want to be in Ottawa anymore. He does not want to play in Ottawa anymore. He's frustrated because he sees where the club is going. The team is unable to retain its good players," explained Jean, as translated from French. 


Jean however added that there could be one saving grace for the Senators. It is believed the 26-year-old forward "could and should be the next Senators captain". Could this role and the hope that young players will develop quickly could convince him to stay in Ottawa?

Remember that Stone is only under contract for the next season, as he agreed to a one-year contract worth US$7.35 million at the beginning of August. Stone’s deal came just as the Senators and the restricted free agent were set to have a hearing to determine the player’s contract for the 2018-19 season.

Stone can now become an unrestricted free agent next summer, tied for the Senators’ lead with 62 points in just 58 games in a lost 2017-18 campaign as the club stumbled to a 30th-place finish, and with Jean's latest information, he could walk for free and test the free agent market, or Dorion might have no other choice than to move him ahead of the trade deadline.

Stone has scored at least 20 goals in each of his four full NHL seasons, and registered a career-high 42 assists last year. With the departure of Erik Karlsson, following the major trade that sent him to the San Jose Sharks, it would be a monster blow to Ottawa to also lose Stone this season... 


Source: TVA Sports