from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

Once the Yuletide season has ended, the Ottawa Senators will have to get down to business.

When the Senators return from their holiday break Thursday to prepare to face the New York Islanders on Friday – followed with a visit by the Washington Capitals on Saturday – there will be no shortage of focus on the future of a couple of key players.

Once the holiday roster freeze lifts on Friday morning the business of hockey will shift back into high gear.

With the clocking ticking towards Jan. 1, 2019, the focus will turn to what the Senators are going to do with unrestricted free agent forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 25.

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Remember, the NHL is still dark today which means no practice for any of the 31 NHL teams.