The Ottawa Senators appear set to open training camp without their longest-serving member.

Defenseman Chris Phillips may be sidelined as his teammates take the ice due to a lingering back issue, and could miss the beginning of camp - or all of it.

"There are some other issues that appear to be going on right now in his back that may delay him being available to even attend camp," general manager Bryan Murray said Friday, according to Ian Mendes of TSN Radio.

Earlier in the offseason, Phillips admitted that he contemplated retirement following surgery intended to correct the back issue.

Selected first overall by the Senators back in 1996, Phillips averaged over 20 minutes of ice time in 36 games played in 2014-15, contributing three assists.

He also broke Daniel Alfredsson's franchise games-played record this past season when he suited up for his 1,179th contest.