The Senators signing C Claude Giroux on the first day of free agency is the "latest move in what has been a dizzying week, month and summer for long-suffering Senators fans," according to Ken Warren of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Veteran free agents with Giroux's pedigree "never used to" sign with the Sens. For years, the franchise was "plagued by dysfunction and has been the butt of jokes around the NHL," but it is "now in the midst of an unparalleled run of positive change." From the "buyouts to the trades to the signings of the past week," Senators GM Pierre Dorion is "on a roll." Dorion said, "We mean business this year." Warren writes it is "not just the abrupt willingness for the organization to open up the wallet far wider since the death of former owner Eugene Melnyk in March." There is a "community spirit to everything that has been happening" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 7/14).
STAYING ON TOP: In Denver, Mike Chambers writes the Avalanche's front office has "continued to make shrewd Stanley Cup-worthy moves" since GM Chris MacFarland took over. Two days after signing RW Valeri Nichushkin to an eight-year deal, MacFarland "did the same" with D Josh Manson and C Darren Helm, signing both Wednesday. The Avalanche have "done well working to keep their championship combination together," and they are "not done trying." They "might yet land" C Nazem Kadri (DENVER POST, 7/14).
CAUSE FOR FRUSTRATION: ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski wrote if Flyers fans were "frustrated with the direction of the team before free agency started," it is "hard to imagine how they're feeling now." Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher had "talked about an aggressive retool of his team, rather than a rebuild." The team had an "excellent shot at the biggest prize on the market" in LW Johnny Gaudreau, as there was "mutual interest." But there "wasn't ... cap space." Fletcher said that the "price to create any more of it for the only franchise player on the market was too high." Fletcher: "Going into next offseason, we'll have more cap space than we had this offseason." Wyshynski: "That's not exactly a quote for the season ticket brochure" (ESPN.com, 7/13).
