The Ottawa Senators made 20 roster cuts on Wednesday. Forwards Corey Locke, Louie Caporusso, Pat Cannone, Corey Cowick, David Dziurzynski, Derek Grant, Wacey Hamilton, Francis Lessard, Jim O'Brien, Mark Parrish and Andre Petersson as well as defensemen Tim Conboy, Eric Gryba and Craig Schira were assigned to AHL Binghamton. The Senators also released goalie Brian Stewart, defensemen Josh Godfrey and Bobby Raymond, and forwards Jack Downing and Maxime Gratchev from their tryouts for minor-league assignments. Prospect Darren Kramer was returned to his junior team in the WHL with Spokane.

Corey Locke has excelled at the AHL level, but he has an uphill battle ahead of him if he wants to make the Senators' opening game roster. Locke has surpassed the 70-point milestone in each of his last four AHL seasons and he set a new career-high with 86 points in 69 games with the Binghamton Senators. However, he's also a 27-year-old who only has eight games NHL experience. It's not completely unheard of for a guy in Locke's situation to become a contributor in the NHL if given the opportunity. The Islanders have proven that in recent years with Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau. Still, in order for Locke to have a real chance to succeed, he'd need to be given top-six minutes and that probably won't happen. He's worth keeping an eye on if he does start the season with Ottawa, but don't be surprised if he ends up spending the majority of 2011-12 in the AHL.