Just like Colton Parayko and Tomas Tatar yesterday, Ryan Dzingel and the Ottawa Senators have exchanged figures for their upcoming arbitration hearing. Dzingel is scheduled for a hearing on Friday morning, and has asked for a $1.95MM salary according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The team has countered with a $1MM offer. The two sides still have almost 48 hours to work out a deal, and GM Pierre Dorion told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen they would like to avoid a hearing if possible.
Dzingel took a big step forward in his first full season, scoring 14 goals and 31 points for the Senators in 81 games. His presence was felt in all situations, as the 25-year old winger uses his speed to create chances of the rush and disrupt passing lanes in the defensive zone. He’s come a long way since being a seventh-round pick in 2011.
A one year deal would leave Dzingel a restricted free agent next summer again, allowing the Senators to continue negotiations on a long-term deal. Even if the arbitrator settles on the full $1.95MM ask, it’s a fine price to pay for a solid secondary scoring option that can move up and down the lineup. With the Senators suddenly flush with center depth, it will be interesting to see who Dzingel lines up with to start the season.