Senators might have to roll with 11 forwards on opening night

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetOctober 10, 2023 - 1:50pm

Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith provides an update on forward Zack MacEwen and says he is still day-to-day and that the Senators are preparing to kick off their season with just 11 forwards if MacEwan is unavailable.

The Ottawa Senators might have to roll out an opening-night lineup with just 11 forwards, coach D.J. Smith told reporters Tuesday.

Smith said the shortage would be forced by the absence of forward Zack MacEwen, who is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered against the Canadiens during pre-season.

The Senators are in this situation because they are within $62,620 of the salary cap and can only call someone up by placing MacEwen on injured reserve. Doing so would leave them without him for a minimum of seven days.

The Senators open the season Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game can be seen, starting at 7 p.m. ET, on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

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