Senators officially down one skater for opener vs. Hurricanes
Posted Oct 11, 2023 01:59:44 PM.
Last Updated Oct 14, 2023 12:20:17 PM.
The Ottawa Senators will dress only 17 skaters for Wednesday’s season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Forward Zack MacEwen is dealing with an injury and unable to play in the game, the team confirmed to reporters.
Centre Josh Norris — who continues to work his way back from injury — is also unavailable for the game, but the Senators have opted not to move Norris to long-term injured reserve to free up enough cap space to recall a replacement for MacEwen.
That — combined with the continued contract talks with restricted free-agent forward Shane Pinto — leave the Senators short a player for the first game of the season.
“That’s for sure the situation,” head coach D.J. Smith said Tuesday. “Eleven and six. In saying that, there’s guys that love minutes. And there’s guys that can play lots. We have a couple of days off between games (next up is Saturday’s home opener).”
The Senators enter the season with high expectations as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
