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The Ottawa senators took a big hit before the puck even fell on the National Hockey League regular season.
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Center Colin White years has probably come to an end before it even started, after senators confirmed Thursday that he will undergo surgery to repair a sprained right shoulder and will be out of service for four to six months.
He was injured less than five minutes into the Senators’ 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday after being overtaken David is struggling along the boards and falling to the ice. White had been penciled in to be Ottawa’s third line center, and that’s a big blow to the depth ahead.
White’s teammates sympathize with him.
“It is very unfortunate. You will never see a teammate go down. Defender Thomas chabot said before the senators boarded a train to Montreal Thursday afternoon. “He got in good shape and he was really looking forward to having a good season.”
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Center Clarke Bishop, which would have been an option, is also on the shelf with an injury to the lower body and will not return soon. Yes, White may return in March, but there are many factors that come into play and it will be a major operation.
“He was going to play in our No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 hole because you can move those guys anywhere you want them,” the senator coach says. DJ Smith said. “He’s a guy who’s been in the league, he can kill penalties and he can play on power play.
He’s down, and (the bishop) is down, so these are two of our top five (centers) that we thought would be here. It opens a door for (Andrew) Agozzino or another. Maybe we’re trying Nick Paul there. It opens the door for another. All we can do is train the guys who are here and train them. ”
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The senators planned to use Agozzino in various situations at the Bell Center on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens to see how he handed over extra responsibility. They could bring veteran American Hockey League back LoganShaw to match the final showdown against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday.
Of course, general manager Pierre Dorion and staff in hockey operations will watch the NHL waiver thread to see if there will be any available that are of interest and a trade is always an option.
ENNIS DRAWS A TRADE
The hard work has paid off Tyler Ennis.
Upon arriving at the camp on a professional trial, 32-year-old Ennis signed a $ 900,000 one-year deal with senators Thursday. He will mainly be used in a role in a fourth line, but the senators like him because he is the kind of guy who can move up and down the lineup.
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Ennis fit for 61 games with the Senators during the 2019-20 season, scoring 14 goals before being handed out to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
“Tyler has had a strong training camp,” Dorion said. “He is a skilled veteran whose leadership qualities should prove to be as valuable as they were here two seasons ago. He is able to generate offensive both on five-on-five and in the powerplay, and with an ability to play both wing positions he will be a great addition to us going forward. ”
Until limited free trade wing Brady Tkachuk signing a new agreement, this will give Smith opportunities.
“He’s an NHL player, he’s been in the league a long time and he can create offense,” Smith said. “He’s a pure confidence player, and if he has it, he makes games. And if he is not, he does not act. Last year at Edmonton he was not a very confident player and therefore he was available for the league.
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“He has played really well here. He’s good at powerplay and I believe he can give an insult. He’s a great guy around the players and he looks to me like the same player who was here a few years ago. He is a good, free player. ”
WAITING FOR TKACHUK
With the 23-man last roster on Monday at 5pm, senators are continuing efforts to try to get a deal in place with 22-year-old Tkachuk. He has been skating in Ann Arbor, Mich., While waiting to sign a contract and has returned to his St. Louis home for the weekend.
The senators are trying to focus on getting ready to start the normal season without him. The senators would like to sign him on a long-term deal, while reports from St. Louis says Tkachuk wants a three-year bridge deal.
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“As a group, it’s something that’s happening right now, and we can not just shy away from it,” Chabot said. “Ultimately, it’s the personal business side, and as a group we want to focus on being ready for the start of the season.
“We have done a good job with that. We come to work every day and we are all aware that Brady is a big part of our team, but that is the business side of hockey. ”
THE LAST WORDS
Returned to Brandon Wheat Kings by Senators Sunday, center Ridly Greig has been named captain of the Western Hockey League club. “He has respect for his teammates, works hard on and off the ice, understands what it means and how to prepare to play. We expect him to be an impact player every night and be a good leader for our team, ”coaches Don MacGillivray … The Senators recalled goalkeeper Mads Sogaard to take the trip to Montreal due Matt Murray was not available. He was ill, but Smith confirmed that it was not related to COVID-19.
bgarrioch@postmedia.com
