Hard to really put into words what's developed in Ottawa over the last twenty minutes.
According to reports from all over (SensProspects and SteffeG were early on this one on Twitter), Mika Zibanejad -- thought to be an absolute roster-lock -- was cut from the team and sent to AHL Binghamton.
The move, along with the decision to waive Jim O'Brien and presumably play him in the AHL, allows the Ottawa Senators to carry twenty-two players as opposed to the NHL-allowed twenty-three, saving the team a
small chunk of cash in the process.
Money is certainly a factor here, but so too was the emergence of Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- arguably the team's best player through the preseason -- down the middle of the lineup. His explosion has forced the team to consider a wide variety of options in terms of moving centers out to the wing -- Mika Zibanejad and Zack Smith were the two likely candidates, and MacLean had recently suggested that one or both would see time on the outside as the team tried to find it's best possible lineup.
Another player who certainly made it difficult for Zibanejad was Stephane Da Costa, who looked great during training camp. The team's decision to not waive Da Costa, a center, and keep him with the big league team was another nail in Zibanejad's temporary coffin.
And make no mistake, this move seems temporary. The team has to figure out what they want to do with Da Costa, and his play more or less forced Ottawa's hands into retaining him and sending down the waiver-exempt Zibanejad, who may now see some developmental time at wing.
Of course, the question everyone will ask: Why not just carry twenty-three players?
Tough day for Mika.
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