Claesson move the first bit of fine-tuning
The first domino of the week fell for the Ottawa Senators Monday as defenceman Fredrik Claesson was placed on waivers.
That was just the start, as the Senators will continue to fine-tune the lineup in advance of Wednesday’s season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There figures to be plenty more movement before Tuesday at 5 p.m., when all NHL teams must submit their opening-night 23-player rosters.
The Claesson decision — he’s expected to clear waivers and end up back with Binghamton of the American Hockey League — leaves the Senators with 23 healthy players.
That group includes 14 forwards, seven defencemen, and goaltenders Craig Anderson and Andrew Hammond.
Those numbers don’t, however, include injured Clarke MacArthur and Curtis Lazar. Lazar, who has missed most of training camp with mono, has picked up the pace of his practice workouts and was hoping to receive medical clearance to return to full contact Monday.
In the morning, he was involved in a spirited skirmish with Dion Phaneuf and went down hard while defending against Thomas Chabot in another drill.
“I wanted that,” Lazar said. “My conditioning is good. I wanted to get some bumps, especially knowing that the game is on Wednesday. So knock on wood, if I can get cleared (Monday) and get a full practice in Tuesday, we’ll see what happens.”
If Lazar joins the team, a countermove must be made. Matt Puempel could be placed on waivers, with the organization hoping he would clear and join Claesson in Binghamton.
Or the Senators could opt to assign Lazar to Binghamton on a conditioning stint, giving him some AHL game action. Lazar does not need to clear waivers.
Alternatively, the Senators could look to the waiver wire themselves in order to bolster their roster as NHL teams flooded the market Monday with players.
In somewhat of a surprise, P.A. Parenteau, who scored 20 goals and added 21 assists with Toronto last season, was placed on waivers by the New York Islanders. The Islanders signed Parenteau, 33, to a one-year, $1.25-million contract this summer.
The Detroit Red Wings have also made winger Teemu Pulkkinen available. Pulkkinen, 24, scored six goals and added six assists in 36 games with Detroit last season. In 2014-15, he scored 34 goals and added 27 assists in only 46 AHL games with Grand Rapids.
Either one could, perhaps, serve as a Band-Aid solution while the Senators await for the possible return of MacArthur.
Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and coach Guy Boucher will discuss many of the names.
“It’s always about the qualities of the players,” Boucher said. “It’s about what we know here, what we hope for and what we know from our scouts (about other players).”
Naturally, it’s an anxious time for Ryan Dzingel and Phil Varone, two forwards who had strong training camps, aiming to prove they should open the season in Ottawa.
“I think I showed well, I showed what I can bring to the table,” said Dzingel, who spent Monday’s workout on a fourth line with Chris Kelly and Chris Neil.
“I showed I can play in all sorts of positions up and down the lineup. I’m happy with my camp. I’m not here just to make the team, I’m here to help and make a difference. I feel like I’m in a good position. Now, I guess, it’s in God’s hands.”
Or at least in the hands of Dorion and Boucher.