Sense: All eight recalled players have been sent back to the American League

On Wednesday, the day after the Canadiens' game against the Senators in Quebec City, the Sens recalled eight players from Belleville. And we all said the same thing: these guys were recalled to face the Canadiens on Saturday night at the Bell Centre… but more importantly, to mess things up on the ice after what happened in Tuesday's game. But that's not going to happen. Why not? Because the eight recalled players have been sent back to the AHL.

ROSTER UPDATE: Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Jorian Donovan, Tomas Hamara, Scott Harrington, Oskar Pettersson, Hunter Shepard and Keean Washkurak have been loaned to the @BellevilleSens.

Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Jorian Donovan, Tomas Hamara, Scott Harrington, Oskar… – Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) October 3, 2025

Five of these guys were in uniform yesterday in St. Louis. And the Sens lost by a score of… 7-1 to the Blues. Ouch. Still, that means the Senators didn't want to dress all their regulars last night, and we can expect to see a full lineup in Montreal on Saturday. I wonder if Nick Cousins will play…

If today's Senators' practice is anything to go by, it's safe to assume that all – or almost all – of the regulars will be in uniform tomorrow night. Cousins and MacEwen together on the fourth line is likely to cause a few sparks… and I also expect Dylan Cozens to be targeted by some Canadiens players during the game. It's likely to be intense, at least.

Today's alignment #Sens

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Giroux Perron-Cozens-Zetterlund Greig-Pinto-Amadio Cousins-Eller-MacEwen/Hodgson Sanderson-Zub Chabot-Jensen Sebrango-Matinpalo Spence-Yakemchuk – Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 3, 2025

There'll be plenty of emotion on the ice at the Bell Centre tomorrow night, and the important thing is not to let it get out of hand.

We're talking about a pre-season game, after all. We're talking about a pre-season game, after all. Teams need it to get ready for the official opening of the campaign (which takes place next week), and it's okay if things get out of hand… as long as it's done legally. Because in the end, there's no point in playing the game if both clubs just want to hurt each other. I don't have a problem with intensity, but you have to play hockey too…

'En

– Three players claimed today in the waivers:

Three #NHL waiver claims on Friday:

D Daemon Hunt (CBJMIN) D Ilya Solovyov (CGYCOL) F Cole Schwindt (VGKFLA) – Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 3, 2025

– Lots of wingers on the list.

Button's early top 10 draft prospects list:

Gavin McKenna (LW) Keaton Verhoeff (D) Ivar Stenberg (LW) Juho Piiparinen (D) Tynan Lawrence (C) Mathis Preston (C) Ryan Roobroeck (LW) Ethan Belchetz (LW) Marcus Nordmark (LW/RW) Oscar Hemming (LW) winger heavy top 10. – NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) October 3, 2025

– He's popular, our Ivan.

Ivan Demidov with Québec Remparts player Nikita Ovcharov pic.twitter.com/Xh3eFrHDjs

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 3, 2025

– News from the Jays.

John Schneider doesn't want to open up his game too much. https://t.co/smlcleWIia –

Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) October 3, 2025