Colin Greening is expected to be a healthy scratch for a fifth straight game tonight when the Ottawa Senators visit the New York Rangers.
Greening has not played since a 5-2 Ottawa loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 8 and has been a healthy scratch 21 times this season entering tonight’s game.
With Chris Neil returning after missing 16 games with a knee injury, Sens’ GM Bryan Murray doesn’t see Greening getting into the lineup anytime soon.
As a result, Murray is working the phones looking for a new home for Greening.
“I just basically told him that I had talked with a number of GMs. I tried to encourage them to give him an opportunity through a trade or whatever vehicle it may be. At this point, there’s nothing for him,” Murray told TSN 1200 in Ottawa on Monday. “I just told him eventually here, if we don’t get something done, he’s got to play hockey. You can’t play hockey as the 23rd, 24th guy on the roster here so I may have to put him on waivers here at some point in time.”
Greening has one goal and minus-3 rating to go along with 27 penalty minutes in 20 games this season.
The 28-year-old is in the second year of a three-year $7.95 million deal and will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2015-16 season.
Greening has not played in the American Hockey League since appearing in 59 games with the Binghamton Senators during the 2010-11 season.
“He happens to be the guy not in the lineup and is not going to be, it looks like, in the next few games at least,” said Murray. “He’s a young guy with a chance to play can contribute to a team in the National Hockey League. He’s a big guy, he skates pretty well. He just doesn’t fit right now with our group at this moment anyway. Two injuries from now, he could be the most important guy going.”
Murray cited the play of Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who has a goal and two assists in 14 games this season, and the emergence of rookie Curtis Lazar as reasons Greening has struggled to find playing time this season.
Murray has spoken to Greening’s agent about finding a trade for the forward, but if a deal can’t be found, Greening is expected to be placed on waivers following the all star break.