After the Brady Tkachuk trade whirlwind over the last 48 hours, the Senators began the process of moving forward on Tuesday morning, getting back to the usual business of running their hockey team. That includes trade talks, and getting for Friday and Saturday's NHL draft and the opening of free agency a week from Wednesday.

It also includes scheduling for next season.

The Senators announced the schedule for the 2026 NHL Prospects Challenge to be held in mid-September at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau. Holding the event at the 4000 arena is part of a renewed effort by the Senators to better connect with hockey fans on the Quebec side.

The teams mixing it up with the Sens prospects will be all-Canadian: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Winnipeg Jets. The Senators won't play the Jets, but they will face the Leafs at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 and the Canadiens at 6 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Monday, June 29, at 10 a.m., but season ticket holders can cut the line and get them this Friday, June 26.

The Sens aren't in a position to announce their prospects roster until they get through the busy part of their offseason. For example, they have three first-round picks in this Friday's NHL Draft – the 9th, 25th, and 32nd overall picks. If they don't trade those picks this week, there could be some exciting, very fresh new talent skating at this event.

Players who participated last year include Carter Yakemchuk, Stephen Halliday, Jorian Donovan, and Xavier Bourgault. The two names featured on the team's social media promotion are goalie Lucas Beckman, who helped lead Chicoutimi to the Memorial Cup, and forward Blake Montgomery, who helped Wisconsin get to the Frozen Four Final.

Former NHL player Sam Gagner is in his second season as the Senators' Director of Player Development and thinks it's helpful for the top prospects before they face the top of the Senators' food chain at main camp.

“I think it's a great opportunity for these players to get off on the right foot, heading into main camp," Gagner said on the club's website. "I saw what it did for Carter Yakemchuk last year, having such a great rookie camp, and going into main camp."

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News