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Typically, the Ottawa Senators rookie camp is an exercise in evaluation, a chance for the organization to see how its prospects stack up against peers.

Yet there’s a much bigger buzz this time around.

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Thomas Chabot and Colin White, the Senators’ prized 2015 first-round draft picks, could potentially land spots on the Senators’ roster when the regular season opens Oct. 5 against Washington.

The first step toward that goal will be a 2 p.m. workout Thursday at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata.

The players will practise Friday morning, before leaving for a three-team tournament against Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens rookies at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.

The Senators will play Montreal on Saturday at 7 p.m. and the Maple Leafs on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Postmedia takes a closer look at five players to watch this weekend:

THOMAS CHABOT

Chabot left junior hockey in dominating style. All he did in 2016-17 was win Canadian Hockey League defenceman of the year honours with Saint John of the QMJHL — 10 goals and 35 points in 34 regular-season games, and five goals and 18 assists in 18 playoff games — and claim the most valuable player award while leading Canada to a silver medal at the world junior tournament.