Colin White’s time with the Ottawa Senators ends as buyout looms

When Colin White signed a six-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators in the summer of 2019, it was supposed to usher in a new era for the hockey club.

After watching a steady stream of popular players leave town, White was the first member of the young core to sign on the dotted line for a contract extension in Ottawa. And the Senators were happy to trumpet his extension as a sign that better days were on the horizon.

“We’ve identified Colin as one of our core young players who will help drive our team’s success in both the short and long term,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement on August 21, 2019. “We also know he is just scratching the surface of his potential in this league. We’re very happy that Colin will be a Senator for the next six years.”

But less than three years after that statement — and exactly halfway through his contract — the Senators appear poised the cut ties with the 25-year-old forward. The Senators placed White on unconditional waivers on Tuesday, which was a prerequisite to buying out the remainder of his contract.

White declined comment when reached by The Athletic via text on Tuesday.

Given his age, the Senators are able to exercise the option that allows them to buy out White’s contract at just one-third of the total price tag — which affords them the luxury of considerable savings.

While the Senators will be paying White $875,000 in each of the next six seasons, they still walk away from this deal by spending only $5.25 million — a far cry from the $15.75 million they owed him in real dollars.

White buyout schedule (via CapFriendly)

Season Salary Buyout Cost Savings Cap Hit

2022-23

$4.75 M

$875,000

$3.875 M

$875,000

2023-24

$4.75 M

$875,000

$3.875 M

$875,000

2024-25

$6.25 M

$875,000

$5.375 M

-$625,000

2025-26

$0

$875,000

-$875,000

$875,000

2026-27

$0

$875,000

-$875,000

$875,000

2027-28

$0

$875,000

-$875,000

$875,000

Total

$15.75 M

$5.25 M

$10.5 M

The Senators even stand to benefit during the 2024-25 season, when White’s buyout will actually give them a slight salary cap credit of $625,000.

When they inked him to a six-year extension, the Senators were optimistic that White’s breakout 2018-19 season was a sign of things to come. He collected 14 goals and 41 points in 71 games in his first full season as an NHLer. And so they felt comfortable handing him a six-year contract that carried a $4.75 million AAV. The club felt optimistic that White was a player who could consistently flirt with the 50-point plateau and fit in nicely within their top six.

Consider that Drake Batherson signed a comparable six-year contract ($4.95 million AAV) after his entry-level deal expired. His numbers were similar to White’s after his first three NHL seasons.

White vs Batherson out of ELC

Player GP G-A-PTS EV Strength Pts Points/Game Avg TOI Shooting Pct

99

23-30-53

29

0.54

15:39

14.3

94

16-31-47

39

0.50

15:30

10.8

But where Batherson has flourished playing alongside talented linemates, White’s role has fluctuated greatly. When he had his successful campaign in 2018-19, his two most common linemates were Mark Stone and Brady Tkachuk. Stone assisted on eight of White’s 14 goals, including six primary helpers.

Stone, however, was traded at the deadline in 2019 and White has failed to generate traction with any other linemate. During the first three years of his contract, White’s most common linemates at 5 on 5 were Nick Paul (501:25) and Tyler Ennis (382:21) according to Natural Stat Trick. Paul and Ennis were reliable in Ottawa, but they were certainly not going to be mistaken for top-six, point-generating forwards. And so White never really had the opportunity flourish with offensive wingers.

In truth, the writing started to become visible on the wall during the opening of the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 NHL season. D.J. Smith surprised a lot of people by making White a healthy scratch in favour of Artem Anisimov for the club’s home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. White would subsequently be scratched in four of the team’s first six games that season — a rather shocking development considering he was only in the second year of his six-year deal.

White managed to get back into the lineup on a fairly consistent basis. He even enjoyed one torrid stretch in the middle of the season in which he scored five goals in six games. He ended the campaign with 10 goals in 45 games — a respectable number that actually carried a better goals-per-game rate than his breakout 2018-19 season. (He scored at 0.22 goals/game in 2020-21 vs. 0.20 goals/game in 2018-19).

There was reason for the Senators to be buoyant about White’s ability to be a 20-goal scorer and key contributor during the 2021-22 season. But disaster struck during a pre-season game against Toronto in October when White landed awkwardly on his arm following a collision with Maple Leafs forward David Kampf. A couple days later, the club confirmed White suffered a dislocated shoulder that would require surgery.

He missed almost five months of action and was able to return to the Senators lineup on February 26. He scored an emotional goal in his return against the Canadiens, receiving a raucous ovation from the half-capacity crowd permitted inside Canadian Tire Centre.

But, in hindsight, that turned out to be White’s final moment of jubilation on home ice in a Senators jersey. He scored just two more goals over the course of his 24 games — both of them tallied on the road. As White struggled with injuries and inconsistency over the past two seasons, other centres leapfrogged him on the depth chart.

First it was Josh Norris establishing himself as a bonafide top-six centre during the 2020-21 campaign. Then last season, Tim Stützle fluorished down the middle, cementing his spot as a centreman on the depth chart for the foreseeable future. Suddenly, White was looking like a very expensive option to be a No. 3 centreman — a role the club believes can be filled by Shane Pinto at a far lower cost.

When the Senators drafted White after acquiring an additional first-round selection from Buffalo in exchange for Robin Lehner in 2015, they believed he had the potential to be an impactful two-way centre. The loose comparisons to Patrice Bergeron were drawn — although that was very unfair in hindsight. But the Senators did envision White having the ability to be a reliable penalty killer.

When they signed him to the six-year contract extension in August 2019, Dorion lauded White’s ability to play in all situations.

“Colin plays the 200-foot game that is so coveted in today’s NHL,” Dorion said at the time. “He can skate, play on both special teams and is a character player and leader.”

But curiously, White was never really deployed as a penalty killer at any point. In 224 career games with Ottawa, White spent a grand total of 18:15 killing penalties. That’s a number that Pinto has already surpassed (18:29 of penalty killing time) in just 17 career NHL games.

So, now White — who is one of the most popular and likeable players inside the dressing room — will be searching for a new home next season.

And wherever he lands, White’s fun and free-spirited ways are sure to follow.

“He’s the typical, best locker-room guy,” Thomas Chabot said last season. “I mean, he’s such a good guy.”

“He’s one of those glue guys,” added Connor Brown. “He’s a goof, but he’s also a total pro.”

That goofy side was on display from the moment the Senators drafted him in 2015.

He famously snubbed Gary Bettman on the draft podium in Buffalo.

Shortly thereafter, he accidentally referred to himself as a “rat rink” to reporters who were asking about his passion for hockey growing up. White created an almost Yogi Berra-esque persona within the Senators room, with his malapropisms providing comedic relief for everybody.

On occasion, White’s quirkiness would find its way outside of the dressing room.

During a January 2020 game against Tampa Bay, White managed to execute a perfect soccer-header style goal — that was quickly waved off because it was deemed illegal.

And during a media session to discuss his return from a shoulder injury this past season, White took the time to explain that he had significant challenges using the washroom.

And during that same media session, in which he described his challenges using the washroom, White spoke about having a new perspective and appreciation for the game of hockey. He showed a wide range of emotions on the podium that day, ranging from silly to serious.

“I can see the game in such a different way now,” White said at the time. “You step away from it and you have the appreciation when you come back. And the appreciation I have for the game is so much more.”

He later discussed his motivation and returning from his shoulder surgeries. He listened to podcasts about athletes recovering from catastrophic injuries. White routinely showed up at Canadian Tire Centre before 8 a.m. to participate in the strenuous workout routine to rehabilitate his shoulder.

If he was hungry to return then, it’s reasonable to surmise that White will only be more ravenous following a contract buyout from Ottawa. He should be a motivated player this summer and with $875,000 coming his way from Ottawa, perhaps he’ll be willing to sign a short-term, ‘show-me’ contract with another club. In any event, there should be a market for a motivated 25-year-old centre who still has the potential to fill a third- or fourth-line role in this league.

As for Ottawa, all eyes will turn to what they plan on doing with the $10 million they’re saving by going this route.

And if Dorion can put that money to good use, perhaps it will soften the blow for having to abruptly sever ties with the first player who committed to his rebuild.

(Photo: Eric Bolte / USA Today)