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Talks to get Mark Stone and Matt Duchene re-signed are about to intensify for the Ottawa Senators.

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion was spotted boarding a Tuesday afternoon flight at Ottawa International Airport, and the indications were that Dorion was headed to Los Angeles to meet face-to-face with Duchene’s agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey.

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It’s also believed Dorion held discussions with Stone’s agents after wrapping up weekend scouting meetings in Florida. He told reporters on Jan. 1 that he expected talks to take place in the first couple of weeks of the month.

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None of this should be surprising. If the Senators are going to get deals done with Stone and Duchene, both of them eligible for unrestricted free agency come July 1, it makes sense that talks would pick up now.

With the National Hockey League trade deadline set for Feb. 25, the Senators have made it clear their priority is to get them both signed to long-term extensions so they can play a major role in the organization’s rebuild.