Talks to get Mark Stone and Matt Duchene re-signed are about to intensify for the Ottawa Senators.

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion was spotted boarding a Tuesday afternoon flight at Ottawa International Airport, and the indications were that Dorion was headed to Los Angeles to meet face-to-face with Duchene’s agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey.

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It’s also believed Dorion held discussions with Stone’s agents after wrapping up weekend scouting meetings in Florida. He told reporters on Jan. 1 that he expected talks to take place in the first couple of weeks of the month.

Photo by Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

None of this should be surprising. If the Senators are going to get deals done with Stone and Duchene, both of them eligible for unrestricted free agency come July 1, it makes sense that talks would pick up now.

With the National Hockey League trade deadline set for Feb. 25, the Senators have made it clear their priority is to get them both signed to long-term extensions so they can play a major role in the organization’s rebuild.

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Under rules of the collective agreement between the NHL and the players’ association, the Senators had to wait until after Jan. 1 to hold formal talks with Stone. As for Duchene, another meeting would be the third for Dorion and Brisson.

Naturally, the Senators want to keep both players, but they need to know if Stone and Duchene are willing to re-sign before Feb. 25. If not, then both will likely be dealt for assets that can help down the road.

In their roles as alternate captains, Stone and Duchene have led by example this season, more than willing to help young Senators.

If the Senators are going to keep both, they’re likely looking at eight-year deals and raises.

Making $7.35 million on a one-year deal he signed in August, Stone will be looking for a deal north of $8 million per season. Duchene is making $6 million in the final year of his current contract.

At least part of the negotiations will involve spelling out for both players the team’s direction. They’ve had those talks in the past, but, a year into this rebuild, both players will want to have a good idea of what’s next.

Owner Eugene Melnyk and Dorion decided just over a year ago that the Senators would do this rebuild. The team has given young players such as Colin White, Thomas Chabot, Brady Tkachuk and Maxime Lajoie an opportunity to play big roles here in 2018-19.

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The Senators don’t have a first-round pick in the NHL draft in June, having sent that to the Colorado Avalanche in the deal for Duchene in November 2017, but they do have prospects such as Drake Batherson and Alex Formenton poised to push for spots next season, so there’s no question more young players are going to be added to the roster.

Stone and Duchene have stated publicly they want to stay in Ottawa if new contracts can be worked out.

Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News

A big part of getting deals done with Stone and Duchene will involve how the contracts are structured. It’s believed Stone was close on a deal with the Senators in August, when they settled on the one-year pact to avoid a salary arbitration hearing.

The Senators also have to decide what to do with winger Ryan Dzingel, who can also become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, For now Stone and Duchene are the priorities, but it would make sense if at least part of the discussions surrounded Dzingel’s future. He has been an effective player with this season with 18 goals and 15 assists in 44 games.

The clock is ticking, but the fact that talks are picking up can be seen as a positive. Dorion and Senators scouts no doubt spent last week in Florida preparing for every scenario.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/sungarrioch

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