The Ottawa Senators are not off to a good start for training camp. Head Coach DJ Smith announced that defenceman Christian Wolanin will be out for 4 months with a torn labrum. Wolanin sustained this injury Monday and was seen in a sling today. Smith also mentioned Wolanin was slotted for a spot out of camp.
#sens D Christian Wolanin out minimum 4 months with a torn labrum. He sustained the injury on Monday.
— Brent Wallace (@tsn_wally) September 12, 2019
Christian Wolanin Out For 4 Months
Wolanin
This is a tough blow for both Ottawa and Wolanin. Christian Wolanin has been around the edge of this team for a bit now, however, this appeared to be the season he could breakthrough. While Ottawa was not expected to be very good, Wolanin was slotted as a possible second-pair defenceman this season.
Wolanin was drafted 107th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 2017-18 Wolanin finished the year with the Sens after finishing his time the University of North Dakota. He had a great final year there and brought promise to the Sens organization. Last season, he split time in the NHL and AHL. He has played 40 NHL games and has 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points. As well, Wolanin has 40 AHL games under his belt. He had 31 points in the AHL last season and was a huge part of the Belleville Senators playoff push.
Going Forward
Moving ahead, someone will need to fill the minutes Wolanin would have taken. Wolanin is an incredibly skilled offensive defenseman who was finding his game in his own end. It is possible someone like Erik Brannstrom comes up and plays in his spot. It is also possible that this opens up a spot for someone like Christian Jaros or Maxime Lajoie somewhere on the roster.
The Sens will have lots of decisions to make this training camp, but there is no doubt losing Wolanin is a tough blow.
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