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NJ@Ottawa Notes/Zaitsev sent down to AHL/Zub contract talks starting?!

November 18, 2022, 8:39 PM ET [150 Comments]
Kevin Francis
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UPDATED - Nikita Zaitsev has been sent down to Belleville moments ago! This clears the way for more cap space, is Dorion on the verge of acquiring someone on the blue line?!

The Ottawa Senators are off their first home win in six tries after snapping their five game home losing streak, by defeating Buffalo 4-1 on Wednesday night. It would be great if the Sens' could knock off the NHL's hottest team in New Jersey tomorrow afternoon in front of what should be a sellout crowd at the Canadian Tire Center before heading out for a four game western road trip.

Ottawa will get a much needed boost on defense tomorrow with the return of Artem Zub on the blue line. The Sens' were 2-6-1 without him in the line up which added to his value for the club and could be another reason why preliminary talks have started between his camp and Sens's GM Pierre Dorion. Dorion has to realize his value will go only up as the season goes on so it would be in the clubs best interest to get a deal done sooner than later. I believe any contract will start with a five year term and go as high as seven years with an AAV of at least 5M.

Here are the lines from Sens' practice earlier today per TSN1200 Twitter feed.

Tkachuk Stützle Giroux
Debrincat Brassard Joseph
Motte Pinto Batherson
Kelly Gambrell Watson
XXXX Kastelic XXXX

Sanderson Hamonic
Brannstrom Zub
Holden JBD
Larsson Zaitsev

Is anyone else surprised that Kastelic could be a healthy scratch for the second straight game? He provides a lot more to the lineup than Parker Kelly, as he brings the same physical presence while taking important faceoffs over the course of the game.

With the Sens' upcoming road trip to SJ, Vegas, Anaheim and LA, I'm curious to hear what Sens' fans think would be a successful road trip. If they could get four of a possible eight points in any combination of regulations wins, OT wins/losses, etc... I personally feel that would be acceptable to many fans in Ottawa.

Thoughts/comments on lineup changes, the contract talks with Zub's camp and fans expectations for the upcoming road trip.

Thanks for reading.
Kevin
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