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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
At 35 years old, RW Daniel Alfredsson continues to be the Senators best all-round player. Despite injuries that limited him to 70 games, he finished second in team scoring, with 40 goals and 49 assists for 89 points. His leadership qualities are unquestioned, and his popularity with Senators fans is unlike anything before seen in this city. Chants of "Alfie" ring through Scotiabank Place every game he plays, and that's not likely to go away any time soon.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
As disappointing as it was for the Senators that G Ray Emery failed to return to the form that helped the team to the finals last spring, he was nothing more than a bystander, as the backup to Martin Gerber, down the stretch and into the playoffs. Even more disappointing was the play of D Wade Redden, who was obviously distracted by trade talk. A former 17-goal scorer and power-play quarterback, Redden scored just six times this season, and not at all in the last 35 games or the playoffs. When your team's highest paid player at $6.5 million is barely hanging on to a spot as a top four defenseman, it's not good.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
The Senators have seven players who are eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1. They are D Wade Redden ($6.5 million), RW Martin Lapointe ($2.4 million), LW Cory Stillman ($1.75 million), D Mike Commodore ($1.3 million), LW Chris Kelly ($1.262 million), RW Shean Donovan ($925,000) and C Randy Robitaille ($625,000). Redden won't be back unless he takes a significant cut, and his representatives believe other teams are going to offer him similar to what he's making now.

Lapointe was a fourth-line player and would likely have to be willing to take a salary of less than $1 million for the Senators to consider taking him back. Stillman's home is in nearby Peterborough and he would like to come back. It's likely something will be worked out there.

Commodore had a tough time adjusting to the Senators' system after he was traded to Ottawa in February. But in the last couple of weeks and into the playoffs, he became what Murray thought he would -- a steady, albeit slow-footed defender who gives the Senators some needed toughness on the blue line. "If you would have asked me two or three weeks ago, I could have given you a definite answer. A definite 'not a chance,'" Commodore told reporters, after the Senators were eliminated, when asked if he would be back. "Now, there's a chance."

The Senators would like to have Kelly back, as he's considered a smart, multipurpose player who is also popular among his teammates. But they may not be able to afford him if he's looking for a raise into the $2 million neighborhood. Rookie Cody Bass, who will earn $510,000 next season, would be a drop-off but could handle Kelly's role.

A fourth-liner for much of the season, Donovan was Ottawa best forward through at least the first two games of the Pittsburgh series. He has family roots in Ottawa and will likely be back.

Robitaille is also from Ottawa, but he did not perform to expectations. He will not be offered another contract.

C Antoine Vermette ($1.075 million) and D Andrej Meszaros ($984,000) will be looking for significant raises as restricted free agents. It's possible Meszaros could be used as trade bait.

PLAYER NOTES

--With D Wade Redden expected to sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent, the Senators will be looking for an offensive-minded, puck moving blueliner to spend some money on. They are most interested in San Jose's Brian Campbell, but will also look at the likes of Colorado's John-Michael Liles and New York's Michal Rozsival, both of whom are slated to become unrestricted free agents in July.

--Goaltending prospect Brian Elliott has fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered in Binghamton near the end of the season and will contend for a job with the parent club in September. The thinking among management is that Elliott is ready to step into the NHL, but would be best served spending another season developing with the Baby Sens.

--There's speculation the Senators will not bring back enforcer Brian McGrattan, who will be a restricted free agent in July. Of those candidates they may pursue to replace him in the tough-guy role is Calgary's Eric Godard, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent.

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