Article content

Welcome to the Victoria Day long weekend, when our thoughts turn to barbecues, outdoor pools and … the upcoming National Hockey League free-agent pool.

As we push that much closer to determining the Stanley Cup finalists — kudos to the NHL and its broadcasting partners for giving us our weekend afternoons — the time is ticking for new Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion to put together his lists for adding depth to the club’s roster, beginning at the Canada Day weekend.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A sneak peak at the Senators possible free agent shopping list Back to video

First, a few assumptions and a reality check. In a perfect world, if the Senators were on the cusp of going the distance, perhaps they would entertain notions of buying a top-flight No. 1 centre. For now, though, forget about a blockbuster forward signing such as Steven Stamkos or David Backes or even Milan Lucic.

Up front, the Senators will more likely enter the market in search of a versatile winger or two, players capable of playing throughout the lineup.