This season was one of improvement for the Ottawa Senators, rebounding from missing the playoffs in 2009 to finishing fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. 

Despite bowing out of the 2010 NHL playoffs in the first round in six hard-fought games to the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins the Senators gave a good account of themselves and appear to have a bright future. 

Salary cap constraints however could significantly hamper management efforts to build upon this season's improvement. 

Core players like forwards Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Chris Neil, Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, defensemen Chris Phillips, Flip Kuba, Erik Karlsson, Matt Carkner, and goalies Pascal Leclaire and Brian Elliott are all signed through next season. 

The problem is they account for most of the over $50 million currently committed to the Senators payroll for next season. 

With the salary cap expected to be close to $58 million for next season that won't leave much space to re-sign pending UFAs Anton Volchenkov, Andy Sutton and Matt Cullen, plus re-up restricted free agents Nick Foligno, Peter Regin and Chris Campoli. 

GM Bryan Murray has attempted to re-sign Volchenkov and is believed interested in keeping Sutton and Cullen, but with Volchenkov in line to receive perhaps as much as $5 million on the open market, plus Sutton and Cullen in line to receive significant raises themselves as UFAs it's quite possible all three could be signing elsewhere in July. 

Murray won't want to risk losing promising young players like Foligno and Regin, who'll be certainly more affordable to retain. It remains to be seen if Campoli will be back. 

The Senators GM could try to free up salary via trades or buyouts but doing so would probably do more harm than good. 

He can't buy out the remaining year of Alex Kovalev's contract since he's over 35 and that wouldn't reduce the cap hit of his salary. 

Murray could perhaps consider trading Kovalev as he lacks a movement clause, but it's unlikely he'd find many takers for a 37-year-old enigmatic winger carrying $5 million for next season. 

Don't expect Murray to shop for a goaltender. Leclaire had an up-and-down season but played very well in the Senators first round series against the Penguins, while Brian Elliott showed considerable potential this season as a starting goalie. 

Michalek's 22 goals and 34 points didn't replace the potent offense of departed winger Dany Heatley but when healthy he was a good fit on the Senators scoring lines and if he can avoid further significant injuries should remain a reliable 50-plus point performers.

The Senators will still ice a competitive team next season, and with young players like Karlsson and Regin showing promise they could possibly be an even better team next season. 

Due to the salary cap however their roster could be lacking some veteran players next season.