Senators Have Sorting Out Before the Maple Leafs Game

The Ottawa Senators are getting close to opening night, and like almost every NHL team right now, they have a few little things to sort out.

The Senators open their season Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, so every injury update and roster move suddenly gets a little more interesting. Three bits of news are worth keeping an eye on as Ottawa gets ready.

First, Warren Foegele Is Hurt, But There’s a Good Sign.

Warren Foegele was placed on the injured non-roster list Monday with an undisclosed injury. That doesn't sound particularly encouraging. But there is a pretty important detail: Foegele participated in Monday's practice. That's a good sign, especially with the season opener against Toronto coming Saturday. So while the paperwork says injured, the situation may not be as gloomy as it sounds.

Foegele split last season between Ottawa and Los Angeles, scoring 13 goals and 17 points in 68 games. He also put 105 shots on net and threw 74 hits. The Senators aren't necessarily looking for him to become an offensive star, but that combination of size, physical play and some scoring ability can be useful.

Second, Kurtis MacDermid Is Another Question.

Kurtis MacDermid also moved to the injured non-roster list Monday, this time with an upper-body injury. Unlike Foegele, though, there’s no timeline for his return. MacDermid played just 19 games for Ottawa last season and had one assist, 18 hits, and 33 penalty minutes. So this isn't a huge offensive hole to fill. But MacDermid brings something different to the lineup, and teams don't generally carry players like him because they expect them to score 20 goals.

For Ottawa, this is more about knowing who is available when the games get rough.

Third, Shane Pinto Gets Some Good News.

And then there's Shane Pinto, who returned to practice Monday after dealing with an undisclosed injury. That's the kind of update Senators fans want. Pinto is expected to be available for Saturday's opener, which matters. He had 23 goals and 46 points in 72 games last season, along with 157 shots and 94 hits. That's a pretty useful package for a team trying to take another step.

Pulling It Together for the Senators.

So, nothing here suggests the Senators are in crisis. Foegele is practicing, Pinto is practicing, and Ottawa can still manage MacDermid's absence. The bigger question is simply how healthy this team will be when the games begin. And with Toronto waiting Saturday, the Senators won't have to wait very long to find out.