Senators waive eight players as roster decisions loom ahead of season opener

The Ottawa Senators waived eight players Sunday as President of Hockey Operations Steve Staios and Coach Travis Green navigated their roster requirements ahead of the Monday 5 p.m. NHL deadline to finalize a 23-man lineup.

The waived forwards are Samuel Blais, Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Philippe Daoust, Ryan Suzuki, and Philip Tomasino. Defencemen Samuel Bolduc and Christian Kyrou were also waived. If they clear waivers Monday, the players will be sent to Belleville, the team's AHL affiliate. Ten additional players were sent down without requiring waivers.

Injuries are complicating the lineup as the team prepares for its season opener against Toronto. Defenceman Jake Sanderson left Saturday's 4-3 preseason win over Montreal with a minor ailment described as precautionary; Green said Sanderson will be ready to start the season. Artem Zub, sidelined since April with a knee injury, is not ready to play and has no timetable for return. If Sanderson cannot go, Ottawa will be without its top defensive pairing. Forward Andre Burakovsky took a hard hit in Saturday's game and did not return, with no update provided by Green. Warren Foegele, injured in training camp, has skated with the team only once; his chances of starting the season appear slim. Kurtis MacDermid sat out camp due to a summer injury with no return timetable. Forward Ridly Greig will be on the roster but suspended for the first two games for an incident against Carolina.