What Happened
Jake Sanderson exited Ottawa's split-squad pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday for precautionary reasons, according to the team. The 24-year-old defenceman had assisted on Drake Batherson's second-period power-play goal and logged 13:22 of ice time with two shots and two hits before leaving. It is unclear what specifically caused the exit, though Sanderson has been dealing with a nagging injury that kept him off the ice with the Senators in recent days.
Key Details
- Sanderson recorded an assist on Drake Batherson's power-play goal in the second period.
- He logged 13:22 of ice time, two shots on goal and two hits before departing.
- The Senators described the exit as precautionary.
- A nagging injury has prevented Sanderson from skating with the team in recent days.
- Sanderson, 24, had 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games in 2025-26.
What It Means
Sanderson is a central piece of Ottawa's blue line, so any absence would test the team's defensive depth early in the season. Holding him out of a pre-season game suggests the Senators are managing his workload rather than reacting to a new, serious issue. The team has not provided a timeline, leaving his availability for the regular-season opener uncertain.
What's Next
Ottawa opens the regular season next Saturday on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sanderson's status for that game depends on how the nagging injury responds in the coming days.