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It has been a long time coming, but Mike Lundin will finally be making his debut tonight for the Ottawa Senators when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

Lundin signed his deal with the Sens back on July 1, 2012. With all that has gone on in the league and with the team in the meantime, the wait has been harrowing. Now, he can finally get his 2013 season going.

"Coming here in September and thinking the season is going to start, and now having the delay for a shortened season, I've been waiting a while to be part of this team and play a game for the Ottawa Senators."

After being drafted by Tampa Bay in 2004, and playing his first four seasons with the Lightning, before joining the Minnesota Wild in 2011-12, there's a good chance many Sens fans haven't seen much of Lundin's game. These fans can expect a very mobile defenceman who likes to get the puck moving.

"I try to get to the puck quick and make a good breakout pass to get going north," said Lundin, adding, "I'm pretty simple, try to use my skating, have a good stick, win races to the puck."

His style of play was a big reason why he opted to sign with the Sens back in July. The uptempo game preached by the coaching staff suits him well.

"They go, they play fast, they don't like to spend a lot of time in the D-zone, they move it forward."

The return of Lundin creates a crowded blueline situation for the Senators, but if there's a problem you love to have as an NHL franchise, it's an excess of defencemen. With eight blueliners on the active roster the Sens have a "may the best man win" scenario on their hands — a stark contrast from the team that was looking for reinforcements on the blueline during training camp.

After all that has happened Lundin may need a few games to shake off the rust physically, but his head is certainly in the right place.

"I've been skating, been waiting for this since the season started. I'm definitely ready to go."

He clearly has a lot on his mind as it'll also be the beginning of a crazy 24 hour period for Mike and his family. Per his agent Ben Hankinson...

Mike Lundins 1st & last @nhl_sens game as father of 1 boy. Wife givin birth 2 twin girls tomoro morn! Talk about exciting time 4 them! #Sens

— Ben Hankinson (@benhankinson) February 7, 2013