The Ottawa Senators are studying the possibility of bringing in another forward.

The St. Louis Blues placed winger Alexandre Texier on waivers on Saturday for the purpose of terminating his contract, and it’s believed Ottawa was one of the National Hockey League teams that reached out to his Detroit-based agent, Dan Milstein, to show interest.

Texier, who had one year left on a contract paying him $2.1 million U.S., turned down an assignment from the Blues to that club’s American Hockey League affiliate on Friday and agreed to have his contract voided so that he could become an unrestricted free agent.

Milstein told the Ottawa Citizen in an email on Saturday that there had been plenty of interest in Texier and his camp was weighing the options.

“There have been nine NHL teams that reached out about Alex,” Milstein wrote. “At this time, we’re down to two teams, and we expect a final decision sometime over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Steve Staios, the Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, has been kicking tires on several forwards since the regular season began. This would be a move to add more depth and, perhaps, Texier would benefit from a fresh start with a new organization.

Given the fact that Buffalo Sabres senior advisor to hockey operations Jarmo Kekalainen drafted Texier while he was general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, you have to think Buffalo would also be an option for the 26-year-old forward.

Texier was selected No. 45 overall in the second round in 2017. He has posted 40 goals and 51 assists for 91 points in 240 career games with Columbus and St. Louis.

The Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks have also reportedly shown interest in Texier, who had six goals and five assists for 11 points in 31 games with St. Louis last season. This year, he had one assist in eight games.

The Senators can use depth up front and have the cap space if they want to make a move like this.

Texier can play both centre and wing. Ottawa is set in the middle of the ice, but injuries can test any club’s depth.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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