The Ottawa Senators have turned to Jorian Donovan to help patch up the blue line.
Ottawa recalled the defenseman from Belleville on today, pushing the club to the maximum of 23 players on its active roster. The move comes as the Senators work through injuries on the back end, most notably the absence of star No. 1 defenseman Jake Sanderson, who will miss the team’s next few games while he is evaluated for an injury.
That puts extra pressure on Ottawa’s defense depth, and Donovan is the first call-up to get a look. The 22-year-old left-shot blueliner was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft and has put himself in the mix after just two full seasons of pro hockey. Last season, the 6’1″, 200-pound rearguard posted 21 points in 61 AHL games and also appeared in two NHL games.
Whether he gets into the lineup right away is another question. Cameron Crotty was already on the roster, so he could get the first opportunity to dress. But if the Senators want to keep the handedness balance on their blue line, Donovan could be the one who gets the nod over Crotty, a right shot.
If Donovan does play, it probably won’t be in anything close to Sanderson’s full workload. The Senators won’t ask one player to simply absorb that role. Instead, Sanderson’s minutes and responsibilities figure to be spread around more established defensemen, with captain Thomas Chabot expected to take the biggest share.
There is also the possibility Donovan’s stay stretches out. Sanderson and injured veteran Artem Zub both have recovery timelines that are still unclear, and that could leave Ottawa leaning on Donovan longer than planned. Still, that would represent the less desirable outcome for the Senators, who are hoping Sanderson’s absence is brief and that Zub can get back from his knee injury sooner rather than later.
Ottawa will also have to make room soon with forward Ridly Greig nearing a return from suspension. The more likely move appears to be shifting an injured player to IR rather than sending Donovan back down, and the leading candidate for that spot is injured forward Andre Burakovsky.
In Other News...
DeBrincat Just Put Detroit's Biggest Contract Decision Into Focus
Alex DeBrincats contract situation in Detroit has quickly become one of the more intriguing storylines around the league, and it has obvious ripple effects for Ottawa fans who watched him up close before his move to the Red Wings. The winger is in the final year of his deal and is reportedly seeking an extension in the range of $12 million to $14 million annually depending on term, a price tag that puts a spotlight on how aggressively Detroit wants to keep him in place.
For the Senators, the more immediate concern is on their own blue line, where Jake Sanderson is expected to miss at least two games because of a lingering injury. He has returned to Ottawa for testing, leaving the club to manage a gap on the road trip and potentially lean on familiar depth options if the absence stretches on. In the meantime, the latest wave of injury and contract news only adds to the sense that this stretch could force a few teams to make choices they would rather not face yet. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Buzz Could Quietly Matter To The Flames Soon
Edmontons latest trade chatter has some ripple effects across the Canadian market, even if nothing has been finalized. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer said the club could make a move before its next game against the Anaheim Ducks, and Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reported Edmonton has explored ways to swap from its defensive depth toward another forward after a cluster of injuries up front. The need appears to be short term, with no long-term absences expected, but it has still put the Oilers in a familiar spot of weighing roster balance against immediate help.
For Ottawa, the interest is less about Edmontons lineup card than about the kind of transaction that can reshape a division race without much warning. The discussion has centered on whether the Oilers use one of their extra defensemen to address the forward group, and the names being floated show just how fine the margins are around the back end. No deal has been announced, but if Edmonton does pull the trigger, it would be the sort of move the Senators watch closely because it could alter the competitive landscape fast. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Blue Line Suddenly Facing An Early Depth Test
The Senators are heading into their matchup with the Bruins already dealing with an early crack in their blue line depth. Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson will both be out for the game because of injuries, which leaves Ottawa shuffling its defensive mix sooner than it would have liked. To help stabilize things, Jorian Donovan has been brought up from Belleville, while Andr Burakovsky has been placed on injured reserve.
For a team that is trying to settle into the season, the timing is less than ideal. Linus Ullmark is expected to start in goal, and Boston will still have to navigate an Ottawa lineup that is being patched together on the fly, with Samuel Ersson slated to make his regular-season debut in the next game. The bigger concern for the Senators is how long they can manage without two regular defensemen, especially with another round of testing already looming for Sanderson. [Read more 🡒]