The Ottawa Senators should soon have a better understanding of where they sit with forward Mark Stone.

"Last week, there is reason to believe the Ottawa Senators put a major push on to try to give Mark Stone enough to think about to maybe just stay and remain with the team," TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie told NBC Sports on Wednesday. "My understanding is that last-ditch effort to try and sign Mark Stone, the dialog continued over the course of this day (Wednesday) and this thing is likely to hit a crossroads one way or another on Thursday."

Stone will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after signing a one-year $7.35 million contract this past summer. The TSN panel said on Wednesday that forward Matt Duchene would likely sit out the Senators' game Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. McKenzie added that Stone may join Duchene if an extension isn't worked out before the game. 

"I would think that the Sens would want to know before the game, where things stand with Mark Stone and he's going to have to make a decision real soon," McKenzie said. "And obviously, if he's not prepared to negotiate or sign with the Ottawa Senators, then he may well wind up with the same fate as Matt Duchene being held out of the lineup. Although I should mention off that the Senators are not even admitting that Duchene is going to be held out of the lineup."

Stone is currently third on TSN Hockey's Trade Bait List behind teammate Stone and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin.

"There are a ton of teams in a bit of a lather right now because they are calling (Senators GM) Pierre Dorion, they want to know what's going to happen with Stone and for now they've been put off to the side," McKenzie said. "They're getting frustrated because Stone would be the No. 1 target, bar none, ahead of Panarin, ahead of Duchene at this deadline if he were made available."