There is plenty of time for the Senators to worry about wins and losses. The preseason is not that time, however. So, no one is stressing about the club’s 1-4-0 September record.

For head coach Guy Boucher, the preseason is about forming chemistry, tweaking line combos, practicing special teams and implementing fresh, young faces into the fold ahead of the team’s Oct. 4 season-opener against the Blackhawks.

With only one exhibition game left to be played Saturday, the opening-night roster appears almost set, especially after forward Filip Chlapik and defenseman Christian Wolanin were assigned to Belleville Friday morning.

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The demotion of Chlapik leaves the current roster at 13 forwards, a number the club will likely carry heading into the season. Earlier in the week, Boucher intimated the team hadn’t decided to keep 12 or 13 players up front.

The 21-year-old had a strong camp, netting one goal in three outings. However, the writing was on the wall when Chlapik played a team-low 7:46 during Thursday night’s win in Chicago.

With Chlapik in Belleville for the time-being, it’s good news for first-rounders Brady Tkachuk and Colin White and 19-year-old forward Alex Formenton.

The organization’s edict was to get faster, younger. Formenton and Tkachuk certainly fill this description.

Formenton utilized his breakaway speed time and again during the preseason. Only three days older than 2018 first round pick Tkachuk, Formenton outraced two Blackhawk defenders to notch a goal last Friday, while following up with a stellar game Thursday night at the United Center, including drawing a penalty when cutting to the net.

Arriving as advertised, Tkachuk has a unique skillset, a robust player who owns playmaking skills, with a deceptive shot - witness his goal against Carey Price at the Bell Centre Saturday. Skating on the left side of centre Zack Smith and right-wing Mark Stone, Tkachuk is penciled in to earn top six minutes.

“That’s what Brady is,” said Boucher. “He’s a big body who goes to the net. He can make plays too. He’s poised. He and Stoner can find each other. He can take care of himself, too.”

Still junior-eligible, its doubtful Formenton returns to his London Knights club any time soon.

“You can see he’s got good vision,” explained Boucher. “He’s making plays, things he couldn’t do last year. Last year you saw he was a jet on the ice, paying the price. Now there’s more to his game, making terrific passes, going to the net, scoring, speed, he’s so good defensively.”

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For Wolanin who played the final 10 games of the 2017-18 campaign with Ottawa after finishing his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, it’s disappointing the 23-year old won’t be in the lineup to start the regular season.

He was simply outplayed by Christian Jaros and the surprise of preseason, Maxime Lajoie. While Jaros has been dependable, it’s Lajoie that’s drawing the attention of coaches and management. Despite being eligible to play as an overage junior last season, the 20-year old played 56 games for Belleville in 2017-18, better preparing himself for an NHL opportunity this season.

The Calgary resident recorded 23:31 time-on-ice Thursday, adding an assist on Max McCormick’s game-winner.

Boucher used words “brilliant” and “poised” in complementing Lajoie’s evening.

It still remains likely one of Jaros or Lajoie may be taking the 270 km trek to Belleville next week, mainly due to Ben Harpur blocking one’s path.

Harpur hasn’t progressed as expected by Senators’ management. However, the six-foot-six, 222-pound d-man is in the first-year of a one-way deal requiring waivers if he’s to be sent down.

Final roster decisions will not be easy; and there are several youngsters knocking on the door, including touted 20-year old forward prospects Drake Batherson and Logan Brown. The pair were among first roster cuts last weekend.

Given it’s his first professional season, it’s no surprise Batherson who tied for tops at the World Junior tourney in goals (7), was sent to the AHL to earn his stripes.

In the case of Brown, the Senators’ 2016 first round selection, it’s a matter of maintaining a consistent compete level. Brown instills great offensive instincts, but catching up to NHL speed and ability to play in all zones is something the St Louis resident needs to concentrate on in the minors.

“For most of these decisions, they’re not final decisions. If you send a kid down, you’re sending him two hours away,” explained Boucher. “The minute he does well, or somebody is injured or not doing their job, that’s the beauty of this year. There’s depth in the American League, something we haven’t had since I’ve been here.”