"It appears the Senators will have at least two high-profile rookies in the lineup when they kick off the NHL season next week in Detroit.
Head coach Paul MacLean was very complimentary of centre Mika Zibanejad (chosen sixth overall this summer) and the No. 9 pick in 2009, Jared Cowen, on Thursday morning.
"I'm not sure if (Zibanejad making the team) is a done deal at this point," MacLean said. "We still have, counting tonight, 10 games we can still evaluate him, but it certainly appears, with the injuries to Peter Regin and Jesse Winchester, that the door is open for him to walk into at this point in time.""
