The Ottawa Senators are navigating a challenging stretch on defense. Already missing key players like Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen, they faced another setback on Saturday night.
During their 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre, defenseman Dennis Gilbert sustained an upper-body injury after a hit from Toronto's Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Gilbert won't be available for Monday's game against the New York Rangers as he undergoes further evaluation.
Gilbert, acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this season, has been a steady presence on the third pairing with Nikolas Matinpalo. His regular role came after Sanderson was sidelined with a shoulder injury. In response to these challenges, the Senators called up Lassi Thomson from their AHL affiliate in Belleville.
Thomson is expected to play against both the Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena. This marks a significant moment, as he becomes the 10th defenseman to suit up for Ottawa this season.
Thomson, who last played in the NHL on November 25, 2022, has been productive in Belleville with 14 goals and 25 points over 55 games. After a stint with the Malmo RedHawks in the Swedish Elite League, he returned to North America under the guidance of Ottawa's president of hockey operations and general manager, Steve Staios.
With ten defensemen already utilized, the Senators are nearing the limits of their depth chart. They might consider calling up top prospect Carter Yakemchuk, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft. Yakemchuk has shown offensive potential with 10 goals and 36 points in his rookie AHL season, despite a challenging plus-minus rating.