DOWN ON THE FARM

Sens hand Greening ticket to AHL

When training camp began, Colin Greening vowed “to change the narrative” on his career path.

Unfortunately for him, it has been same old story.

The Senators placed Greening on waivers Friday. If, as expected, he clears, he will join the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

“He would like to play in the NHL and we need him to go down (to the AHL) and play well,” Senators general manager Bryan Murray said. “If he’s one of the top guys down there — we know there are injuries during the year — he’ll get that chance.”

Murray has also told Greening and his agent that he’ll continue to try to trade the 29-year-old leftwinger. However, Murray has tried to move Greening for the past year, the biggest handicap being the two years and $5.95 million that remain on his contract.

Greening earned that deal based on his 2011-12 season, when he scored 17 goals and 20 assists while seeing considerable time on a top line with centre Jason Spezza.

He has been on a decline ever since. He spent most of last season as a healthy scratch, scoring one goal in 26 games while being bypassed by younger players.

“He thinks he has played OK (in training) camp,” said Murray. “We didn’t think he played as well, obviously. Sometimes you get into a rut as a player.”

PRINCE/PUEMPEL DECISION AWAITS

With the Greening decision, the Senators are down to the league maximum of 23 healthy players — 14 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders.

But the Senators plan to start the season with 22 players, meaning the most difficult decision — whether to keep Shane Prince or Matt Puempel — still must be made.

Prince has the inside track because he needs to clear waivers if assigned to Binghamton and could be claimed by another NHL team.

Puempel, in the final year of his entry-level contract, can be assigned to the AHL without having to go through that process.

“We will probably do it Sunday, in all likelihood, to be fair to the player going down,” said Murray.

While the Senators conclude the preseason Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre against Montreal, there was still uncertainty Friday about who may be in the lineup.

“At least one of them will play,” said Murray.