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Thomas Chabot was noticeable by his absence Friday morning.
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The Ottawa Senators’ top blueliner didn’t take part in the club’s skate at the Canadian Tire Center and a decision on whether he’ll be able to suit up against the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night won’t be made until the morning.
The club’s alternate captain played 29 minutes and 53 seconds in the club’s 4-3 overtime win against the Seattle Kraken Thursday night and even finished the game with a long shift during the three-on-three session.
While the rest of Josh Norris’ teammates went to center ice to salute the crowd after he scored at 2:34 of OT, Chabot, who assisted on the winner, went straight to the bench and into the dressing room followed by team doctors.
The Senators are hopeful he’ll be able to play and his situation is much the same as winger Connor Brown. He’s nursing something and hasn’t been taking part in any morning skates but he hasn’t missed a game.
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“I couldn’t go today. We’ll see (Saturday) how he is. Hopefully he can play but if he can’t we have (Victor) Put,” coach DJ Smith told a small group of reporters following the club’s skate Friday.
People watching the broadcast indicated the TV cameras showed Chabot either blocking a shot with or grabbing his arm during the OT session. He’s average 26 minutes and 58 seconds per-game in 52 games this season.
Chabot plays every role for this team. He helps drive the offense by moving the puck out of the zone and he helps run the defense with the simple play. This isn’t just another loss for the Senators, it’s a big hit if he can’t play.
Chabot missed four games last month after he took a hit in Washington. He returned Feb. 22nd and had a three-point effort against the Minnesota Wild.
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“You’ve seen us playing with Chabot and you’ve seen us playing without Chabot,” said Smith. “He came back in Minnesota and he was single-handedly our best player. He breaks us out, he runs the power play, he does so many things out there and he’s a leader.
“He’s the whole bag of tricks so we’re not nearly as good a team without him. It’s pro sports, the next guy has to go in and get the job done. It’s a huge hole, it’s not anything surprising, I don’t think that’s surprising anything because anybody knows if he’s not playing we’re not as good a team.”
SANDERSON ON HIS WAY
The University of North Dakota started its playoffs Friday night and blueliner jake sanderson suited up for the first time since he suffered a collarbone injury at the Winter Olympics.
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The club’s No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, will finish the year with UND and will sign with the Senators immediately. When that happens will depend on how long the Fighting Hawks stay in the post-season.
Gerente general Pierre Dorion confirmed Friday that he and senior VP pierre mcguire traveled to Grand Forks, ND last month to have dinner with Sanderson and Ottawa prospect defenseman Tyler Kleven, the club’s 44th pick in 2020.
During that meeting, Kleven was also invited to join the Senators this spring, but he’s yet to make a decision. As for Sanderson, the deal will be done when the school is eliminated or wins the NCAA championship.
Sounds like Sanderson may even have himself set up to live with one of his teammates when he lands in Ottawa. He’s widely-regarded in a lot of circles as the best defenseman outside the NHL and he’s a candidate for the Hobey Baker Trophy as the top college player in the United States.
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“We hadn’t really had a chance to spend a lot of time together because we didn’t have a development camp,” said Dorion. “With Tyler Kleven, we’ll leave it up to make whatever decision he wants at the end of the year.
“But, it’s pretty much written in stone, and Jake told me himself, that once his year is over — hopefully after they win Frozen Four — he’ll be joining our team. I’ve even heard rumors about living arrangements so once the season is done he’ll be joining the Ottawa Senators.”
If Kleven reports, he’ll likely spend time with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.
THE LAST WORDS
Let’s update the injury front:
- For all those excited about winger Drake Batherson’s return being close, he was in a yellow non-contact jersey Friday. The belief is Batherson could suit up as early as next Saturday against Montreal and as late as the club’s March 26th home game against Florida.
- Center Chris Tierney, who suffered an undisclosed lower body injury while the club was on the road, was also in a non-contact jersey. I won’t be back in the next week.
- Dorion said Matt Murray won’t be back anytime soon from what’s believed to be a head injury. “Matt won’t be back for a little while,” Dorion said. “We’re going to make sure Matt is 100% when he gets back in the net.”
- belleville goalie Kevin Mandolese suffered a lower body injury Wednesday and didn’t make the trip to Manitoba with his teammates. The indications are his season of him may be over. “It doesn’t look good. We’ll know more after the MRI but it’s a longer-term injury,” said Dorion.
