Senators release Curtis Lazar to play for Canada at world junior championship

By Stephen Whyno The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, December 18, 2014 12:33PM EST

Curtis Lazar, a center, stands with officials from the Ottawa Senators sweater after being chosen 17th overall in the first round of the NHL hockey draft, Sunday, June 30, 2013, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Text:

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. -- The Ottawa Senators have decided to let Curtis Lazar play for Canada at the world junior championship.

Lazar, one of the Senators' top prospects, has recorded a goal and six assists this season as their fourth-line centre.

The 19-year-old had the second-lowest average ice time on the team, just above Chris Neil, at 12:45 a game.

Wednesday night at the New Jersey Devils, Lazar skated 15 shifts for 8:30, his lowest totals of his rookie season.

Lazar is expected to play a prominent role with Canada's world junior team and could even be the captain.

A winger in 2014, it's uncertain whether Lazar will play there or at centre in 2015.

Lazar becomes the seventh returning player on Canada's world junior team, joining goaltender Zach Fucale, defenceman Josh Morrissey and forwards Sam Reinhart, Connor McDavid, Nic Petan and Frederik Gauthier.

With Lazar joining, Canada must make four more cuts, including three at forward, to get down to the 22-man roster.

Canada plays Russia in exhibition action Friday night in Toronto.

The world junior championship begins Dec. 26 as Canada faces Slovakia in Montreal.

RELATED IMAGES

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Ottawa Senators' Cody Ceci (5), Curtis Lazar (27), and Zack Smith (15) celebrate with goaltender Craig Anderson (41) at the end of third period NHL action against the Colorado Avalanche in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. The Senators defeated the Avalanche 5 - 3. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Canada forward Curtis Lazar (centre) celebrates his goal with teammates Nik Petan (19) and Anthony Mantha (right) as Slovakia forward Eduard Simun (left) and goaltender Samuel Baros (back) react during first period action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Monday December 30, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn
Team Canada forward Anthony Mantha (28) celebrates his goal against Germany with teammate Curtis Lazar during first period qualificatoin round IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS/)