Report: Sens set deadline and deliver ultimatum to Mark Stone.

Unless there’s a change of heart between now and Monday afternoon, it’s likely that Mark Stone has played his final game with the Ottawa Senators.

According to a report from Sens insider Bruce Garrioch, Stone will be held out of the team’s lineup until he either signs a new deal or is dealt away in a trade. This, of course, includes tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Check out this report from Garrioch’s column for the Ottawa Citizen today:

As the Senators prepare to face the New Jersey Devils Thursday night at the Prudential Center, sources say the club’s alternate captain will likely be a healthy scratch unless the two sides are able to come to an agreement on a new deal before the puck is dropped at 7 p.m.

It’s believed owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager Pierre Dorion wanted an agreement in place with Stone’s camp by Thursday evening and they don’t want to take any risk he’s going to get hurt if he’s to be moved before the deadline.

Stone will, of course, join fellow pending UFA Matt Duchene in the press box. Coincidentally, it looks like Devils forward Marcus Johansson, himself also in trade talks, will be a healthy scratch, as well.

As a result of Duchene’s and Stone’s absence, the Sens have recalled forwards  Filip Chlapik and Darren Archibald from their AHL affiliate in Belleville for tonight’s game.

UPDATE: Stone, Duchene and fellow Sens UFA Ryan Dzingel will in fact be scratched for tonight's game.