What Happened
Ottawa Senators captain Thomas Chabot shed his non-contact jersey at Monday's practice, and head coach Travis Green told reporters the defenceman is trending in the right direction. Green said he was not sure whether Chabot would play Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights but described him as close to playing. Chabot has been out since leaving an Oct. 18 game against the Philadelphia Flyers early with an upper-body injury.
Key Details
- Chabot practiced without a non-contact jersey on Monday.
- Green said Chabot is close to playing but was unsure about Tuesday versus Vegas.
- Chabot last played Oct. 18 against Philadelphia, exiting early with an upper-body injury.
- Green initially estimated a one-to-two-week absence.
- Chabot had one goal, three assists and a plus-5 rating in nine games before the injury.
- Chabot is Ottawa's 11th captain and the first francophone to hold the role.
What It Means
Chabot is Ottawa's captain and a top-pairing defenceman, so his return would restore a significant piece of the Senators' blue line and leadership group. His early-season production of four points in nine games came with a plus-5 rating. The timeline Green gave after the Oct. 18 injury appears to be holding, with Chabot now cleared for contact in practice.
What's Next
The Senators host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, though Green has not committed to Chabot playing in that game. His status will likely be determined closer to puck drop.