Ottawa Senators’ top scorer awarded $2 million salary

Senators forward Mike Hoffman requested a salary of $3.4 million from an arbitrator while the Senators countered at $1.75 million.

The verdict makes the Senators winners in both of their arbitration hearings this summer. Also the fact that Stone improved and Hoffman “tailed off” at the end of the season, which coincided with Bobby Ryan’s slump over the same time period.

It’s a bargain deal for the Senators, especially when considering Hoffman was reportedly seeking a $3.4 million contract, while Ottawa countered with $1.75 million. Hoffman set career highs in all major scoring categories including goals (27) which was tops among Senators rookies. If Hoffman has another strong season and Chiasson is able to bounce back, then Ottawa will be in a considerably more hard negotiating position.

So that pretty much completes the Senators roster, and they are still under their supposed internal budget.

The winger will remain under team control after next season as a restricted free agent and they’re not over-extending themselves based on one impressive year for a guy who had spent the bulk of his three previous seasons in the American Hockey League.