The Ottawa Senators are set to get some help on the blue line soon, with Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub both expected back within the next few days, according to TSN’s Bruce Garrioch.
Sanderson has been sidelined by a lower-body injury since Ottawa’s first game of the season. In that one appearance, he was limited to 4:29 of ice time and did not record a point.
Even with that tiny sample, he remains the key defenseman the Senators have been waiting to plug back into the lineup. Over the past two seasons, Sanderson has posted 25 goals and 111 points in 147 games while logging 24:37 per game.
Zub’s absence has been longer and tied to a more serious setback. He was hurt during last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs and missed all of Ottawa’s training camp and preseason because of a knee injury. He doesn’t bring the same offensive punch as Sanderson, but he is still an important piece for the Senators on defense.
Ottawa may also be nearing a return up front. Head coach Travis Green said, via Garrioch, that winger André Burakovsky is “close.”
Burakovsky has been dealing with an upper-body injury after the Senators acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks this past summer ahead of the NHL Draft. Last season with Chicago, he had 11 goals and 33 points in 75 games.
In Detroit, the Red Wings announced they have activated forwards Chase Stillman and Carter Bear from the non-roster/injured list and sent both to AHL Grand Rapids.
Bear, 19, stands out as the more notable name. He was the 13th overall pick and came off a big season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where he scored 36 goals and finished with 77 points in 53 games.
In Other News...
Red Wings May Already Have Another Goalie Worth Watching
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For a team always watching its goaltending pipeline, Postavas first two games have stood out even more because of how calm he has looked. The Griffins have won their last four home openers, and with Postava posting a 1.50 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage so far, there is at least a little more reason to pay attention every time he gets the crease. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Suddenly Get A Tougher Canadiens Matchup Tonight
The Canadiens are getting a significant boost on the blue line tonight, and it comes at a time when theyve already been trying to sharpen the edges of their roster. Kaiden Guhle is set to make his season debut after missing the first four games following offseason surgery on his adductor muscle, and Montreal plans to slot him next to Mike Matheson against the Red Wings.
To make room for Guhles return, Montreal recently moved Jayden Struble out of the picture in a trade with Nashville for a 2027 second-round pick. For Detroit, it means the matchup suddenly looks a little stiffer on a night when the Canadiens can roll out a more complete defense and lean on a player theyve been waiting to get back. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Trade Chatter Just Took A Strange New Turn
Social media has added a strange layer to the Dylan Larkin trade chatter, with Canadiens fans being encouraged to make plenty of noise for the Red Wings center during an upcoming game in hopes of helping sway him toward Montreal. It is the kind of outside-the-box fan campaign that speaks to how badly some around the Canadiens want to believe Larkin could be part of their future, even as the rumor mill keeps spinning without anything official to grab onto.
The skepticism, though, is hard to miss. While the chatter has stirred up interest and mixed reactions ahead of Saturday's game, there is still no confirmation of any trade talk, and the broader sense around the speculation is that Larkin has not exactly been lining up for a move to Montreal. For now, it remains one more odd subplot in a league where fan passion can travel faster than facts. [Read more 🡒]