The Ottawa Senators' defensive corps is about to receive a significant boost ahead of a busy pre-holiday schedule. Top defenceman Thomas Chabot is poised to make his return to the lineup this weekend after missing 12 games due to a core muscle injury.
Targeting a Weekend Return
Chabot, who initially suffered the injury on November 11 against the Dallas Stars, is expected to suit up for the Senators' game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre. If the team opts for caution with back-to-back games, his return will shift to Sunday's contest against the Boston Bruins.
This marks Chabot's second attempt at a comeback. He briefly returned to play against the San Jose Sharks just ten days after the initial injury but re-aggravated the issue at the end of that game. Since then, the Senators' medical and coaching staff have taken a patient approach, ensuring the problem is fully resolved to avoid a season-long hindrance.
Easing the Load on a Stretched Defence
Chabot's absence has been felt acutely on the Senators' blue line, where he averages 21 minutes and 55 seconds of ice time per game, second only to Jake Sanderson. Sanderson has shouldered a massive load in Chabot's absence, leading the club with 25 minutes and 14 seconds per game.
"We miss him a lot," Sanderson said on Friday. "He's a guy that plays a lot of minutes for us and plays in every situation. Whenever he's back, we're going to be fired up to have him."
The team's move on Friday to send defenceman Dennis Gilbert to the AHL's Belleville Senators is a clear precursor to Chabot's activation. This transaction was completed just before the NHL's Christmas roster freeze took effect at 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, which remains in place until December 28.
Roster Decisions Loom for Coach Green
Chabot's return creates a welcome dilemma for head coach Travis Green. The question now is which defenceman will come out of the lineup. Throughout Chabot's absence, the defensive group has stepped up, with players like Nikolas Matinpalo and Jordan Spence seeing increased roles.
While the team could theoretically dress seven defencemen, that scenario is considered unlikely. Chabot has primarily been partnered with Nick Jensen this season, and a reunion of that pairing is a probable outcome upon his return.
The Senators face a demanding stretch of three games in four days before the league's mandated holiday break begins on Christmas Eve. The return of their veteran minute-muncher is a timely gift as they navigate this crucial segment of the schedule.
