Sens’ Mike Hoffman awarded team-friendly 1-year, $2M decision in arbitration

NHL arbitration season has official ended. Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators became the final player to go through the process and was awarded a one-year, $2 million deal following Thursday’s hearing.

From the Senators: 

Hoffman, 25, established new statistical career highs in all major categories in 2014-15, registering 48 points (27 goals, 21 assists) and 14 penalty minutes over 79 regular-season contests. His 27 markers saw him lead both the Senators and NHL rookies while his 48 points ranked fourth among league rookies in scoring. In tandem with Mark Stone, Hoffman was among only the second pair of Senators rookies to record at least 20 goals in one season since Alexandre Daigle and Alexei Yashin accomplished the feat during the 1993-94 season. 

Before arbitration, Ottawa asked for $1.75 milion, while Hoffman went with $3.4 million as his number, which means this is a terrific deal for the team.

Hoffman’s even strength numbers were solid: 22 goals, 51.7-percent Corsi and a 1.8 Relative Corsi-For, meaning nearly two more shots for directed at the opponents’ net when he was on the ice than when he was off. TSN’s Travis Yost pointed out how strong his production rates were last season, while also arguing he’s not as big of a defensive liability, compared to similar producers, as some might think. 

Next summer Hoffman will again be a restricted free agent, and this one-year decision allows the forward to show this past season wasn’t a fluke. It also gives both sides time to work out a longer agreement should it come to that. Those negotiations should again make GM Bryan Murray smile knowing the power a team has over RFAs.

With all deals signed, this leaves Murray and the Senators with just under $8 million in cap space, per General Fanager. That’s enough room for several tweaks and upgrades should the team need it during the season.

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