Why would any free agent want to sign there

Money

Just re-sign Borowiecki instead. Hamonic isn't the right fit, Edmundson is overpaid and Shattenkirk can get more. Chabot, Zaitsev, Borowiecki, Zub, Wolanin, Reilly and add one D maybe. They won't be contending so just wait another season and see what the young players can do instead of wasting money on free agents.

For the forwards, Batherson plays RW, move White to C. Maybe Formenton/Abramov are ready, Norris as well and Brown can get more $. The rest seems good.

Most of those guys could be able to fetch more

but even though... I think it's a dream. Ottawa isn't able to attract guys like hamonic. It was a best case scenario kinda team

Ottawa would be the last team Shattenkirk would signed with, Shattenkirk doesn't want to play in Canada. So not happening.