On Tuesday, the Ottawa Senators made some tough decisions as they trimmed their roster down to the final 23 players for opening night. Among those cut were forwards Jan Jenik and Adam Gaudette, who were both placed on waivers.
Jenik, a 20-year-old prospect, was acquired by the Senators in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes last season. He showed promise during training camp and the preseason, but ultimately did not make the cut for the opening night roster. Gaudette, a 24-year-old center, was signed by the Senators as a free agent in the offseason. He also had a strong showing in the preseason, but was unable to secure a spot on the team.
These moves come as no surprise, as the Senators have a deep pool of young talent and tough decisions had to be made. General Manager Pierre Dorion stated that both Jenik and Gaudette will continue to develop with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators.
The Senators are looking to improve upon their last place finish in the North Division last season, and have made significant changes to their roster in the offseason. They have added veteran players such as Nick Holden, Michael Del Zotto, and Tyler Ennis, while also giving opportunities to their young prospects.
The team’s opening night roster includes 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Notable names include captain Brady Tkachuk, newly acquired center Shane Pinto, and goaltender Matt Murray.
The Senators will kick off their season on Thursday, October 14th against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will be a tough test for the young team, but they are determined to show improvement and compete in the highly competitive North Division.
As for Jenik and Gaudette, they will have to continue to work hard and prove themselves in the AHL in order to earn a call-up to the Senators in the future. The team has high hopes for both players and believes they have bright futures ahead of them.
In the end, the Senators’ cutdown day was a necessary step in finalizing their roster for the upcoming season. The team is eager to get the season started and show their fans that they are a team to be reckoned with.
