Eric Gryba agrees to 2-year deal with OTT. $1.2M and $1.3M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 26, 2014
The deal is also reportedly a one-way contract.
Re-signing Gryba was a bit of a formality since he was one of the Senators’ three remaining restricted free agents (yeah, I’m ignoring Stephane Da Costa), but there are so many defencemen on the parent NHL roster or on the cusp of playing on the NHL roster, that you wonder when something is going to have to give for the Ottawa Senators.
Cody Ceci established himself as a NHL regular by the end of the season, Mark Borowiecki is on a one-way contract of his own, Fredrik Claesson is close, Chris Phillips was re-signed to a two-year contract and Patrick Wiercioch lost the confidence of the coaching staff and spent more time in the press box than many of the organization’s less talented players.
What Gryba has going for him over many of the aforementioned names is that he’s a natural right defenceman. Ceci and Karlsson are the only other natural right defencemen on the parent roster right now, so it gives Gryba more leverage in the competition for jobs next season.
Now the Senators will be faced with a situation in which they have Patrick Wiercioch, Marc Methot, Jared Cowen, Chris Phillips as holdovers from last season with Mark Borowiecki and Fredrik Claesson waiting in the wings.
It’s a congestion on the left-side and it will need to be addressed. Unfortunately, it could (and likely will) culminate with Patrick Wiercioch being moved at the expense of a Jared Cowen or the “Oh god, why did they ever re-sign him?” Chris Phillips.
Sigh.
Other Signings
The Senators also announced the signing of prospects Michael Sdao and Chris Wideman to two-way deals.
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