Ottawa's prospects will compete in the 2023 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo but it's doubtful that any of them are in the NHL plans this season.
One day soon, if you haven't heard someone ask it already, you'll hear the question, "Can you believe how quickly summer is going by?"
But every year, coast to coast, the return of NHL hockey is at least some solace for Canadians being forced to end their sun worship.
The Ottawa Senators announced today they will take part again this year in the 2023 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo. And remarkably, the tournament is less than two months away.
The Senator greenhorns will face the prospects from the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
Here's the full game schedule.
Friday, September 15
- Ottawa vs. New Jersey, 12 p.m.
- Pittsburgh vs. Boston, 3:30 p.m.
- Buffalo vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 16
- Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh, 12 p.m.
- Boston vs. Montreal, 3:30 p.m.
- Buffalo vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Monday, September 18
- New Jersey vs. Boston, 10 a.m.
- Montreal vs. Ottawa, 1:30 p.m.
- Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh, 5 p.m.
The Sens rosters will be made up of many of the players from the development camp that was just held in Kanata earlier this month. Players of interest include Leevi Merilainen, Tyler Kleven, Tyler Boucher, and Zack Ostapchuk,
Most of the young Senators at the Prospects Challenge will be hard pressed to earn jobs at main camp this season. In fact, you can make a pretty compelling case that all positions in Ottawa are probably spoken for already. It's hard to see any of the prospects supplanting anyone from this group.
Forwards:
Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Kubalik-Stutzle-Giroux
Greig-Pinto-Joseph
Kelly-Kastelic-MacEwen
Defence
Sanderson-Chychrun
Chabot-Zub
Branstrom-Hamonic
Goalies
Korpisalo-Forsberg
Games will be available online, probably streaming on the Sabres website, and information will be made available at a later date.