UPDATE: The Senators have announced their 23 man opening night roster, and indeed Methot is on IR, with both Curtis Lazar and Mike Hoffman on the roster. Pageau, Puempel, Robinson, Claesson, Greenham sent to Binghamton along with Dziurzynski, Alex Grant and Johnson. No surprises or curve balls from the Senators this time around.
Today by 12 noon, we will find out what direction the Ottawa Senators will be taking this season. That is the time where players will have to be put on waivers in order to clear ahead of tomorrow's 5PM deadline to be down to 23 players.
Aaron Johnson, Dave Dzuirzynski and Alex Grant were placed on waivers yesterday, and will likely get sent down once they clear today, assuming they do. There is really no reason to think any of them will get claimed.
That leaves Mike Hoffman first in line as the next big question mark. The Senators will be able to carry 14 forwards with the assumption that Marc Methot will be put on IR to start the season and Frederik Claesson will be sent down, leaving 7 blueliners. Also of interest is Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who doesn't need waivers but would be in contention for a fourth line spot. Contract realities are likley going to see Pageau sent down, because he really hasn't distanced himself from the guys who would require waivers.
So if Hoffman is not put on waivers today, he will at least start the season with the club. He has shown enough in the last 2 games in terms of his speed, ability to draw penalties with that speed and his ever-present shot that he would probably get picked up on waivers if he were exposed.
The Senators can delay the decision on Hoffman due to Methot's injury but when he returns to the lineup, assuming continued good health on the team, then a decision will have to be made, whether it is Curtis Lazar going back to the Edmonton Oil Kings or perhaps Hoffman or another veteran (Condra, Greening) being waived.
The caveat is that, if it is not Hoffman being waived or someone like , the Senators will be paying an NHL ticket to an AHL player, probably not high on the list of things they are keen on doing.
I don't anticipate any real surprises, like last year when Mika Zibanejad was sent down in favor of Stephane Da Costa and Pageau. Hoffman's name will not likely be on the waiver list today, nor will any other NHL names from the Senators.
I will have an update when it becomes available.