Murray: Contract talks with Hoffman on hold, will decide own future 'soon'
While Senators general manager Bryan Murray says one of his team's most pressing offseason needs is adding a top-six forward, talks seem to have stalled with Ottawa's current leading scorer.
Contract negotiations with pending restricted free agent Mike Hoffman are "on hold," Murray told media Friday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
Murray says still deciding what kind of offer they will make to rfa Mike Hoffman.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) April 1, 2016
Hoffman leads the Senators with 27 goals this season and ranks fourth on the team with 54 points, but his production has slowed significantly in 2016. After scoring eight goals and 13 points in the month of December, he has just nine goals and 20 points in the three months since.
Murray's other priority for the offseason is landing a bottom-pairing defenseman, as he "really likes" his top four of Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot, Dion Phaneuf and Cody Ceci.
The GM added that all members of the organization are being evaluated, including himself and the coaching staff. Murray said he'd make a decision about his role with the club for next season "soon."