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First off, a huge thank you to the many that reached out to me on Twitter or here on HB in my IM's, I appreciate all the kind words about what I was posting on deadline day. Now that the NHL trade deadline has passed, I wanted to take a look at what current Ottawa Senators players will be with the team on opening night for the 2022-23 season.

Forwards -

Chris Tierney - UFA and I wonder if he plays in the league again, maybe in Seattle on a cheap one-year deal.

Dylan Gambrell - I would be stunned if Ottawa qualified him due to what he's earning. Sens have cheaper options in Belleville for potential call-ups in Logan Shaw and Clark Bishop, if they resign either of these players.

Tyler Ennis - Depending on how the Sens forward group looks in the summer, outside chance they bring him back as a reliable 13th forward who doesn't upset the locker room.

Adam Gaudette - For some odd reason DJ and Pierre Dorion like this player, I could see them qualifying him. Time will tell, especially after the NHL Entry Draft takes place.

Mathieu Joseph - Ottawa controls his rights for 2 more years, they will qualify him.

Alex Formenton and Josh Norris - Ottawa will extend both players, with Norris most likely getting a long-term deal while Formenton a 3-year bridge deal.

** Colin White - Even though he's signed for another 3 years, after hearing how Dorion talked about White in his presser on Monday, there's absolutely no way he will be here next year. The question that will be answered come draft time is will he be dealt to another team or bought out this summer?

Defense -

Victor Mete - Ottawa won't qualify him making him a free agent.

Erik Brannstrom - The Sens will qualify him if they can't trade him at the draft.

Michael Del Zotto - Ottawa could've traded him on Monday had they retained salary. Now they will have to pay him his bonus on July 1st before trading him. St. Louis and Carolina had serious interest in him. No way he's here come opening night.

Dylan Heatherington - He's a UFA. Once all the big names are sorted on the blueline, I could see them bringing him back as a 7th/8th defenseman.

Nikita Zaitsev - He has a 10 team M-NTC list. One thing for certain here is management realizes he can't be here come opening night next season if this defense is going to have the success it needs to have for a strong start to the season. Ottawa has to pay him his 2 million dollar bonus on July 1st. As I've stated here for a while now, once Jakob Chychrun is dealt, I truly believe that's when Ottawa will move him once the bonus is paid.

Goaltenders -

Matt Murray - The biggest wildcard on this team come this summer. I don't think the relationship between Murray and management will ever be repaired. Dorion will certainly be looking to see if he can move him.

Sens fans, do you agree with these lineup changes? How do you see them playing out? Comments, let's discuss it.

I will post a blog talking about UFA and trade targets at the end of the regular season.
Thanks for reading.
Kevin

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