The Ottawa Senators are taking another hit on the wing, with Warren Foegele set to miss an extended stretch after absorbing a knee-on-knee hit in Monday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
That absence adds urgency to a situation the Senators were already trying to address. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports general manager Steve Staios has been searching for scoring help, and was doing so even before Foegele went down. Ottawa is sitting 21st in the NHL with 2.85 goals per game despite its promising 8-5-0 start, and it is already playing without off-season addition William Eklund.
Foegele has one goal and four points in 13 games with Ottawa this season while averaging 12:10 of ice time. The 30-year-old winger joined the club last season after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, and finished that stretch with six goals and eight points in 21 games. Across the two teams, he put up 13 goals and 17 points in 68 games.
In a broader body of work, Foegele has 118 goals and 230 points in 594 career games. He is signed through this season with a $3.5 million cap hit.
While the Senators sort through their forward picture, they also lost a defender on waivers Thursday. The Minnesota Wild claimed Cameron Crotty off waivers after Ottawa placed him there Wednesday.
Crotty, 27, is from Ottawa and has appeared in three games for the Senators this season without recording a point. He’s in the final season of a two-year contract carrying an $812,500 average annual value. Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Crotty has one assist in 11 career NHL games with Arizona, Minnesota and Ottawa.
His departure lines up with the Senators getting a full defense corps back for the first time this season, as Thomas Chabot returns to the lineup against the Los Angeles Kings. Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, Chabot, Jordan Spence, Tyler Kleven and Nick Matinpalo are all set to dress, with Carter Yakemchuk listed as a healthy scratch.
Elsewhere on waivers Thursday, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Carson Soucy cleared, while Dallas Stars forward Cameron Hughes was the only player placed on waivers. Hughes has not appeared in a game at any level this season, but he did record 17 goals and 68 points in 65 AHL games with the Texas Stars last season.
In Other News...
Senators Suddenly Face A Roster Decision They Didn't Want
Ottawas depth chart took an unwelcome hit Tuesday night in Vegas, where Warren Foegele exited after a knee injury on a board-side collision with Jeremy Lauzon. There was no immediate official word on the severity, which leaves the Senators waiting for a clearer picture while also trying to manage the rest of the lineup without one of their forwards.
For now, the most immediate option appears to be reaching into Belleville for help if the roster needs a boost. Longer term, the injury could force Ottawa to at least consider outside help, with the trade market looming as a possible source of a top-nine scorer if the situation becomes more pressing. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Scoring Problem Is Testing Steve Staios Early
The Senators early scoring issues have put Steve Staios in an awkward spot, with Ottawa sitting 21st in goals per game and few easy fixes available from within. Injuries have thinned the forward group, and the organization is already looking at ways to add more punch before the problem lingers too long into the season.
Staios has reportedly started checking the market for help, but the combination of cap pressure and how early it still is makes a meaningful deal harder to pull off right away. One name said to be in the mix is Chicago forward Teuvo Teravainen, though Ottawas options remain limited while it waits for injured players to work their way back. [Read more 🡒]
Senators' Injury Crunch Is Putting Andre Burakovsky On The Spot
Ottawas strong start has given the Senators a little breathing room, but the injury pileup around the lineup is starting to demand more from the players still available. Andre Burakovsky is right in the middle of that squeeze, with the veteran forward still searching for his first point and trying to re-establish himself in a role that has not been steady enough for him to settle in.
The bigger concern is what comes next if the offense does not follow. Ottawa is going to need useful minutes from every available body, and Burakovsky is the kind of player whose spot can become vulnerable when production lags behind the teams needs. If the Senators keep looking for ways to open room for others, the pressure on his place in the lineup is only going to grow. [Read more 🡒]