After a blockbuster trade completed by the Ottawa Senators involving superstar Erik Karlsson, more news has come out. Jean-Gabriel Pageau could be out 4-6 months with an Achilles’ Tendon injury. Surgery to repair Pageau’s ankle could also be necessary.
According to multiple sources, news are not good regarding Jean-Gabriel Pageau today. Could be out from 4 to 6 months and a surgery to repair a Achilles’ tendon could be necessary. @Senators
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) September 13, 2018
Jean-Gabriel Pageau Out With Serious Injury
Pageau hurt his ankle on Thursday while completing a physical test at the team’s first day of training camp. It is another unfortunate event in what has already been a hard day on Sens fans.
Last season, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. He also added 36 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were a 46.5 percent Corsi-For and a relative Corsi of -1.6.
Over his six-year NHL career, Jean-Gabriel Pageau has only played for the Ottawa Senators. He has put up 59 goals and 71 assists for 130 career points in 329 career games. He was originally drafted in the fourth round, 96th overall of the 2011 NHL draft by the Ottawa Senators.
What This Means for the Future
Jean-Gabriel Pageau was projected to be the Senators second line centre behind Matt Duchene. The Senators will now have to explore outside the box to fill that hole throughout training camp.
The Sens could acquire a competent centre to slot into that position until Pageau is ready to return. That could potentially be the newly acquired Chris Tierney. However, his offensive numbers suggest he would be better in a third line role.
The Sens second route would be exploring how a prospect or rookie in their pool would fit at the second line centre spot. While this option could work too it’s better to be safe than sorry and acquire an already experienced centreman. This gives the rookies and prospects flexibility and no added pressure to perform in a spot they might not be comfortable with just yet. The team already lost their best player today, losing their second line centre will only add to the sting of today’s day in with the Ottawa Senators.
Main Photo: OTTAWA, ON – MAY 23: Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on May 23, 2017, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
