Based on the morning skate, Greig is expected to lineup alongside Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle.
Through the first eight games, the Ottawa Senators have five forwards rolling along at a point per game or better. The list includes precisely who you'd expect: Brady Tkachuk (11), Tim Stutzle (10), Drake Batherson (10), Claude Giroux (9) and Josh Norris (7).
But for the remaining eight forwards, things drop off quickly after that.
Shane Pinto, David Perron, Ridly Greig, and Michael Amadio are expected to provide that next wave of offence this season.
Pinto (3 points) and Perron (0 pts) are the proven scorers in that group but may not be able to help again for a while. Pinto is out with an unknown injury, and Perron has stepped away for personal reasons. Their return dates are unknown.
Without them, the club needs offensive contributions from Greig and Amadio. Statistically, their career-best in a season has been 26 and 27 points, respectively. That's elite for a fourth-liner and about average for a third-line guy.
At this stage, the Sens would settle for average. Greig has one point in five games, and Amadio has zero points in eight.
Head coach Travis Green tried to get Amadio going by putting him on a line with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle the last few games. Amadio has been a fine two-way player and creates opportunities, but it isn't yet resulting in offensive production.
So tonight, Ridly Greig will get a turn...maybe. During the third period on Sunday in Colorado, Greig took Amadio's spot with Tkachuk and Stutzle. Head coach Travis Green kept Greig on that line today at the morning skate. Green was asked about the decision to move Greig up.
"Well, first of all, I don't know if I'm doing that yet tonight. We skated that way this morning, and if I do do that, it's to give that line a different look."
Okay. Fine.
As for Grieg, he always seems game for anything, whether it's the status quo or a chance to play higher in the lineup.
"Yeah, obviously it's two good players," Greig told the media after the morning skate. "So I was excited to play with them. But I think it was just a shift in the (last) game for Greener to make the switch."
So if Greig does move up, Amadio would drop down to play on the third line with Noah Gregor and rookie Zack Ostapchuk. Or maybe that's the new fourth line? After all, Nick Cousins, Adam Gaudette and Zack MacEwen have outscored that line 7-1.
As a former first-rounder who was a fine scorer in junior, the jury is still out on whether Greig has enough NHL-level offence to be a top-six forward in Ottawa. For however long it lasts, this opportunity could help the club decide where he fits into the roster.
Getting this look (if Green decrees it to be so) is a big deal for a young player, especially in a contract year. But Greig was his usual self after practice, a man of few words, treating it like it's no big thing.
"Well, obviously you wanna play well," Greig said. "And it's probably not too often you get an opportunity like (this). So, hopefully, I'll just attack it the same way as every other game."
Any direction from the coach?
"I've talked to Greener a little bit. He knows my game; he knows I'm an energy guy. So probably just do the same thing I always do."
Just another day at the office for Ridly Greig.