2015 NHL Free Agents: Latest Rumors on Ottawa Senators' Goalies and Adam McQuaid

As the NHL universe enjoys a wildly compelling conference finals round, the league's 26 other teams have turned their attention to the roster-building portion of the offseason. The July 1 commencement of free agency is still over one month away, but clandestine leaks and negotiations have been occurring for weeks.

Most of the noise is still speculation at this point, though there are already a few strong signals that certain players might leave their current team.  The static salary cap has wreaked havoc the past few years, and whether it's Mike Green in Washington or Cody Franson in Nashville, a few of the top free agents could prove too costly for their current employers.

For now, the loudest whisperings are coming from the Atlantic Division, where a pair of goaltenders and a gritty blueliner are likely available for a variety of suitors.

Anderson and Lehner Available

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The emergence of 27-year-old goalie Andrew Hammond was the season's top Cinderella tale, and the Ottawa Senators acted swiftly by signing the Hamburglar to an extension.  However, in doing so, the Sens have an overcrowded goalie depth chart, and they could look to move Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner, per the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch:

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The Senators would like to clear up the crowded crease before the draft if it's at all possible. After signing Hammond to the extension, the talk is [general manager Bryan] Murray has been fielding calls on Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner with significant interest in both. "Five or six teams have called and there has been some discussion and there will continue to be. We'll see what comes of it," Murray said. It's believed the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks are among the teams looking for goalies.

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The 34-year-old Anderson is the more experienced player and the goalie the Sens turned to when Hammond struggled in the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.  Moreover, he'll be under team control for the next three years, as his $12.6 million extension kicks in for the 2015-16 season.  At least one analyst sees Alberta as Anderson's most logical destination:

Conversely, the 23-year-old Lehner makes sense for a team seeking either a developmental backup or a young goalie with upside to help anchor a rebuilding project.  The former second-round pick saw a significant drop-off from his 2013-14 campaign, with his save percentage declining from .913 to .905 and his goalie point shares dipping from 6.8 to 3.8, per Hockey-Reference.com.

Still, that 24-start sample shouldn't necessarily erase him from teams' radars.  

The Buffalo Sabres are currently well-stocked with goalies who could contribute to the big league club down the line, such as Cal Petersen and Swedish prospect Linus Ullmark, both of whom have garnered hardware at lower levels.  However, Lehner could represent a short-term upgrade from incumbent starter Anders Lindback while also providing more long-term upside in the event that Petersen and/or Ullmark bust.

With Hammond entering next season as the unquestioned No. 1, it's a safe bet that at least one of Anderson or Lehner moves.  Given the goalie shortage around the league, neither should have a difficult time finding a new home.

McQuaid Leaving Boston?

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The Boston Bruins were one of this season's biggest flops, missing the postseason for the first time in eight seasons a year after capturing the Presidents' Trophy.  With Peter Chiarelli out and new general manager Don Sweeney in, there's a significant amount of flux surrounding one of the more stable organizations in the past decade.

The perpetually cap-strapped organization will have some difficult free-agent decisions, and one of them could be Adam McQuaid.  The 28-year-old was a top-four defenseman at times last season and one of the few steadily available players on an injury-depleted roster.  

The Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa reported that talks between the player and team have already begun, though a deal appears unlikely given Boston's cap situation:

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The Bruins have held casual conversations with Adam McQuaid, who will be unrestricted on July 1. The Bruins like the 28-year-old in a bottom-pairing role. But it’s unlikely they’ll have the cash to match what he will earn on the open market. McQuaid would be a good depth signing for a team seeking experience and snarl on the back end.

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McQuaid was a bottom-pairing defenseman on the two Bruins teams that made the Stanley Cup Final in 2011 and 2013, though his toughness and pugilistic tendencies have made him an excellent locker room fit for the traditionally blue-collar franchise.  For his part, McQuaid declared after the end of the season that he wanted to remain in black and gold:

For that desire to manifest itself, though, McQuaid would likely need to take a significant discount.  According to Spotrac, the Bruins currently have just $3.8 million in cap space, hardly enough to keep their lengthy list of free agents.  Gregory Campbell, Daniel Paille and Carl Soderberg are likely goners, and promising defensive cornerstone Dougie Hamilton will need a massive extension. 

Apart from Mike Green, there aren't many intriguing under-30 defensemen hitting the open market.  McQuaid isn't someone who will play heavy minutes against top lines, but his physicality and stay-at-home reliability could earn him a nice contract that prices him out of the Bruins' range.