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With one game to play in the pre-season for the Ottawa Senators, the battle for 4th line positions is starting to sort itself out. Even though LW Parker Kelly has had a very average training camp/pre-season games, there's no way he isn't in the starting line-up next week as he wouldn't clear waivers. Austen Watson is penciled in for now at RW but the center ice position is the one spot that has seen the most competition. Mark Kastelic has taken a stranglehold on the position as Dylan Gambrell has had a very underwhelming camp.

I was told earlier today that Sens GM Pierre Dorion is possibly looking at placing Gambrell on waivers come this Sunday or Monday while signing Derick Brassard to a one-year deal to be the extra forward. Sens' head coach DJ Smith really likes the experience Brassard brings to the lineup and if injuries occur, which they undoubtedly seem to with this team over the last few years, he feels Brassard has the ability to move up and down the lineup while chipping in on special teams. I still have no idea why Dorion signed Gambrell on June 15th as there was no need to sign him so quickly to a one way deal.

On defense, the same goes for Nikita Zaitsev as Dorion is looking at two options with him as we enter the weekend. He either hopes the Arizona Coyotes take on his contract as part of a package for Jakob Chychrun or Dorion will place him on waivers within 48 hours of the last pre-season game for the Sens. It's no secret that Zaitsev sold his home here in Ottawa recently, so he knows the writing is on the wall. I can't see him in Ottawa, even as a 7th defenseman, with Dorion wanting no distractions with this team when they start the regular season.

A few sources told me that Thomson was sent down to Belleville for two reasons. One, his training camp hasn't been what the coaching staff had hoped for plus the Coyotes have told Dorion that they don't want Thomson as part of any package for Chychrun, meaning the Sens have showcased JBD a bit here over the last few games in the hopes of including him as part of a potential package for Chychrun. It's no secret that Yotes GM Bill Armstrong covets JBD as part of any trade for Chychrun.

I will have far more information later on Friday with regard to a few trade scenarios regarding the Sens and Chychrun. Check back later.

Thoughts/comments Sens fans?!
Thanks for reading.
Kevin

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