For all those Senators fans wondering how the “rebuild” was going to be received by key potential free agents like centre Matt Duchene, they got their answer on Tuesday.



“I’ll be honest, it’s a kick in the balls for us. That’s how it feels,” Duchene said when asked about the news of Zack Smith, the longest-serving Senator, being placed on waivers.



It was a moment of unvarnished truth, revealed by a player who is considered one of the key pieces for this franchise and an important voice in a dressing room that is being transformed at breakneck speed.



Privately, other players were furious, seeing the move to dump a popular teammate as nothing more than a cost-saving measure.



“It sucks, for sure,” said veteran defenceman Mark Borowiecki. “We don’t have control of the roster in here. Obviously, those decisions are out of my job description. I know that he’s a really, really good...