As the Ottawa Senators prepare to open their season, one thing is clear: Travis Green isn’t afraid to tinker. After weeks of speculation and training-camp experiments, Tuesday’s practice offered the clearest glimpse yet at what the opening-night lineup might look like—and the combinations raised as many questions as they answered.

At the top, Fabian Zetterlund has been skating alongside Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle, forming a first line that looks both promising and provisional. Claude Giroux, meanwhile, has slid into what some are calling the “Amadio spot,” skating on the third line with Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto, while Michael Amadio moves up to the second unit. It’s a shuffle that, depending on who returns to the lineup, could change again in a matter of days.

“Is this just early-season stuff?” one analyst asked on TSN Radio’s In the Box. “Or is Green still extending training camp into the regular season?”

The bigger question is who gets squeezed out once everyone’s healthy. Drake Batherson is on the trip and expected to draw in for Game 2, which could force Zetterlund or Amadio down to the fourth line—or out of the lineup entirely. And nobody believes Claude Giroux is destined for a checking-line role. That leaves Green with ten forwards for nine top-nine slots, and one tough conversation coming after opening night.

“It’s a good problem to have,” came the cautious optimism. “But someone’s going to be ticked off by Game 2.”

The balancing act doesn’t end there. Stützle’s faceoff numbers improved slightly last year but remain below league average, while Giroux continues to rank among the best in the NHL at the dot. That’s prompted speculation about whether the veteran might eventually find his way back to the top line—if not for chemistry, then for situational faceoffs.

Still, the consensus seems to be that faceoffs alone won’t dictate lineup structure. “You’re not going to jump through hoops just for that,” said one commentator. “It matters in certain moments—defensive zone draws, special teams—but at five-on-five, faceoffs are overrated. They rarely lead directly to goals.”

On defense, Green faces another delicate puzzle. Practice pairings suggest that defenseman Sean Spence could be scratched to start the year, with Jacob Bernard-Docker and Matt Mantapalo expected to hold down the third pair. That decision raised eyebrows, given that Spence was brought in as a puck-mover and offensive option.

“Maybe it’s a case of the incumbent getting the nod,” one analyst said. “Spence was acquired for a reason, but Green knows what he’s getting from Mantapalo. There’s familiarity and trust there.”

The situation might also reflect opponent-specific tactics. Facing the high-powered Tampa Bay Lightning on the road is no time for experimentation, and Spence could soon rejoin the lineup once the Senators settle in—or when top prospect Tyler Kleven returns from injury. Still, for a new player eager to prove himself, it’s a frustrating start.

On the offensive side, much of Ottawa’s improvement this year hinges on one key question: can they score more at five-on-five? Among the forwards being watched closely is Dylan Cozens, acquired in a bold offseason move.

Cozens, still just 23, has one 30-goal season to his name but has hovered around the 15–20 mark otherwise. The Senators are banking on him rediscovering that top-end production.

“This is the year we’ll find out who he really is,” one analyst noted. “He has the frame, the skill, the skating—but can he finish?”

Cozens’ scoring profile is puzzling. At times, he looks like a dominant north-south power forward, capable of driving the play through the neutral zone. Yet his touch around the net has been inconsistent. “He’s good at advancing the puck,” one observer said. “But not always good at punching it over the goal line.”

The expectation: 20–25 goals and around 55–60 points—a solid return for a player the team invested heavily in. “He doesn’t have a natural scorer’s shot,” the analyst admitted. “Thirty-plus goals would take a special kind of season. But mid-20s? That’s where he should live.”

Ottawa’s opponent tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning, presents an early test. The Bolts are missing Nick Paul, out until November after surgery, and Michael Moser, suspended after a preseason hit. Yet even depleted, Tampa’s core remains formidable.

“You can always lean on the big names,” one analyst said. “Point, Kucherov, Stamkos, Hedman—they can all log 25 minutes if needed. Their offense and power play are still elite.”

Tampa’s consistency remains underappreciated in a division dominated by Florida’s recent Cup wins and Toronto’s perennial spotlight. “People forget how good they were last season,” Hayes added. “Their goal differential was among the best in the league. They just ran into the Panthers, like everyone else did.”

He predicts Tampa could win the Atlantic Division outright. “They score enough, their stars are still elite, and as long as Vasilevskiy stays healthy, they’ll be there at the end.”

Elsewhere in the East, Toronto opened its season with a 5–2 win over Montreal—a result that, while positive on paper, masked an even contest.

“Toronto won but didn’t play well,” said Hayes. “It was basically a coin flip. The difference was goaltending.”

Joseph Woll’s backup, Alex Stolarz, impressed in his Maple Leafs debut, while veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly looked rejuvenated after a focused offseason. “He was all over the offensive zone,” Hayes said. “That’s the version of Rielly they need if they’re going to go anywhere.”

Montreal, meanwhile, deserved better. “They played hard, created chances, and could’ve easily won. There’s no shame in that effort.”

And in Boston, the Bruins opened their post-Bergeron era with a 3–1 win over Washington—a game that might serve as a blueprint for their survival strategy this season. Jeremy Swayman was sensational in net, while David Pastrňák and new linemates Hampus Lindholm and Morgan Geekie combined for all three goals.

“That’s the formula,” said Hayes. “Great goaltending, shutdown defense, and your top guys producing. If those three things click, they’ll stay competitive—even without their old core.”

It’s early, of course—far too early for sweeping conclusions. But for Travis Green and the Senators, tonight’s opener against Tampa will set the tone. Can they find immediate chemistry? Can they score consistently at even strength? And can their blue line hold steady under pressure?

The lineup might change by Game 2. Someone might be unhappy by Game 3. But that’s life in the NHL—where depth is both a blessing and a balancing act.