Max Guenette Survives Senators Cuts; Sokolov and Bernard-Docker Placed on Waivers

For the second time in two days, the Senators may lose a former first-round defenceman on waivers.

It looks like 22-year-old defenceman Max Guenette, a seventh round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, has just won an NHL job.

That's how it appears right now after the Ottawa Senators' latest round of cuts. They were announced right after Ottawa's 3-0 win over Pittsburgh Monday night. Nine more players have been assigned to Belleville, including four who must now clear waivers: Jacob Bernard-Docker, Jacob Larsson, Matthew Highmore and Egor Sokolov.

48 hours after Lassi Thomson was lost on waivers to Anaheim, Bernard-Docker and Sokolov are now there for the taking as well. All three were once highly touted prospects. The Sens used first-round picks on Thomson (2019) and Bernard-Docker (2018) and a second-rounder on Sokolov (2020). They may still emerge as regular NHL players, but players worthy of being drafted that high have usually made it by now.

The other Belleville assignments, who don't need waivers, are goalie Kevin Mandolese, defencemen Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo, along with forwards Zack Ostapchuk, and Cole Reinhardt.

That leaves Guenette in the number 6 or 7 spot on the defensive depth chart, at least to begin the year. As a right shot defenceman, our best guess is that he'll rotate in for Travis Hamonic and jump in when someone gets dinged up. 

Guenette was Belleville's top scorer among defenceman with 40 points last year. And he's certainly paid his dues, improving every year. But four years ago when he was drafted, no one would have thought that Guenette would be here, just as no one would have though that Thomson would be gone. Remember, the Sens chose Thomson in round one, 168 picks before they took Guenette in round seven.

It's almost certain now that the Sens will start the year with the six defencemen who dressed Monday night and probably in the same pairings. 

The top three forward lines would be pretty much set as well, if not for the complicating factors of Josh Norris and Shane Pinto. Both have missed all six preseason games so far. With only two games remaining, we continue to wait on Pinto to sign and Norris' surgically repaired shoulder to become un-tweaked.

Including Tyler Boucher (injured) and Josh Bailey who's on a PTO, the Sens still have 18 forwards on the roster. Forwards who are realistically battling for NHL jobs include Parker Kelly, Ridly Greig, Jiri Smejkal, Roby Jarventie, and Josh Bailey. It's interesting to note that Bailey has worn an "A' on his jersey twice in preseason.

Here's the full roster now, with players we project to be locks for the NHL opening night roster listed in bold:

Goalies

Anton Forsberg, Joonas Korpisalo, Mads Sogaard 

Defence

Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, Erik Brannstrom, Travis Hamonic and Max Guenette.

Forwards

Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Claude Giroux, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, Vladimir Tarasenko, Dominik Kubalik, Mathieu Joseph, Mark Kastelic, Zack MacEwen, Ridly Greig, Parker Kelly, Jiri Smejkal, Roby Jarventie, Boko Imama, Rourke Chartier, Josh Bailey (PTO) and Tyler Boucher (injured).

Stay tuned...

The Senators are in Winnipeg Thursday night and then wrap up their preseason schedule at home against Montreal on Saturday.