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Paul and Szwarz need to clear waivers before reaching Belleville. There is a remote possibility that Paul, who has had a decent camp of his own, could be plucked by another NHL team.

Which brings us back to the intrigue surrounding Sabourin, a seven-year AHL veteran who has clearly impressed Senators coach D.J. Smith with his determined forechecking game.

There he was on the ice in the latter stages of Wednesday’s 6-2 pre-season comeback win here against the Vancouver Canucks, helping protect the lead by banging bodies to the end.

Sabourin hasn’t won a spot on the opening day roster just yet.

The Senators still have 27 players in camp, including injured forwards Rudolfs Balcers, Vitaly Abramov and injured defenceman Christian Wolanin.

The Senators must be down to a maximum of 23 players before the season opener next Wednesday against the Maple Leafs.

With only one pre-season game remaining, Saturday against Montreal, Sabourin is presumably in a battle with Drake Batherson, Logan Brown and Filip Chlapik, fuelling a lively debate about whether the Senators need more skill or more sandpaper at the bottom end of the depth chart.

Sabourin makes no apologies for his throwback style.

“I’ve been around for seven years as a pro now, so I’ve learned what you’ve got to do out there,” he said following the tete-a-tete with Matthews last week. “Some people like it, some people don’t. That’s just the way it is.”

The roster discussion is further complicated by the uncertainty surrounding Abramov, who is in concussion protocol, and Balcers, who suffered a leg injury Wednesday.