Sanderson returns for opener
Jake Sanderson Expected To Return For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
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Key Points
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Sanderson is entering his fifth NHL season after Ottawa drafted him fifth overall in 2020; last season he recorded 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in 67 games.
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Zub took part in practice Friday wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, marking his first time on the ice this season. A separate report said he had suffered a setback in camp and was skating on his own.
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Stanley, a 2023 fourth-round pick, turned pro after finishing his junior season at Cornell and ended last season with one goal in six appearances for Belleville.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson is expected to play in the team's season opener against Toronto after returning to practice, though coach Travis Green and Sanderson himself stopped short of guaranteeing his availability. Winnipeg Free Press reported the Senators' decision to loan defenceman Hoyt Stanley to AHL Belleville suggests Sanderson is nearing a return from an undisclosed injury.
If cleared to play, Sanderson is expected to resume his spot on Ottawa's top power-play unit. The 23-year-old enters his fifth NHL season after being drafted fifth overall in 2020 and recorded 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in 67 games last season.
Zub Out, Foegele Expected Back
Defenceman Artem Zub will miss the season opener while recovering from a knee injury. Lethbridge Herald reported Zub took part in Friday practice wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, marking his first time on the ice this season. He had suffered a setback during camp and was skating on his own separately from the team.
Winger Warren Foegele is set to return for the opener after undergoing offseason surgery. His availability provides some relief to Ottawa's forward depth as the team navigates the early part of the season without Zub's defensive presence.
Stanley Loaned to Belleville AHL Squad
The Senators sent 2023 fourth-round pick Hoyt Stanley to the AHL's Belleville Senators. Brandon Sun noted Stanley turned pro after finishing his junior season at Cornell and appeared in just six games for Belleville last season, recording one goal.
The move signals Ottawa's confidence in Sanderson's imminent return. Stanley's loan frees up roster space and suggests the team expects its top defenceman to fill his usual role in the lineup soon.
Post-Tkachuk Era Begins Against Toronto
Ottawa opens its season without Brady Tkachuk, who was traded to the Florida Panthers. Castanet reported Thomas Chabot will serve as the Senators' new captain. The franchise is entering a transitional year, with Chabot stepping into the leadership vacuum left by Tkachuk's departure.
The matchup against Toronto marks the beginning of this new chapter. Sanderson's availability will be crucial for Ottawa's defensive core as the team adjusts to its restructured roster under Chabot's captaincy.
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