The Ottawa Senators have announced that forward Connor Brown, among other Senators, has been placed in COVID-19 protocol.
Roster update: The #Sens have placed forwards Connor Brown and Dylan Gambrell in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
In related moves, the team has recalled forwards Scott Sabourin and Egor Sokolov from @BellevilleSens.
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) November 8, 2021
In an attempt to prevent further spread, the Senators canceled practice this past Monday.
Conner Brown and Others Placed in COVID-19 Protocol
Brown and Dylan Gambrell are the newest additions to the Senators’ COVID-19 protocol list. defenseman Nick Holden, forward Austin Watson, and assistant coach Jack Capuano, had all previously been placed on the list earlier in the week. Now, the Sens have five total personnel on the COVID-19 list. An outbreak is of major concern at this point.
Conner Brown, currently in his seventh NHL season, has become a key contributor for the Senators both this year and in years past. Coming to the Senators in 2019, Brown spent his previous four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Forwards Scott Sabourin and Egor Sokolov have been recalled to fill in for Brown and Gambrell.
What’s Next For the Sens
It’s tough to tell what the next steps are for the Senators. COVID-19 holds a lot of mystery and what is one starting lineup today could be a totally different one tomorrow. The Sens haven’t started the season out well either. They are just 3-7-1 in their first 11 games. With the loss of Brown, their third-leading point-getter, The lack of scoring depth for the Sens will be on full display during his absence.
No one ever wants to make any assumptions, but it’s safe to say an outbreak is of major concern right now for the entire organization. You can’t plan for situations like this, but it goes without saying that a team like the Sens will be in some deep trouble for as long as this lasts.
Currently scheduled for a bout in Boston Tuesday night, it’s unclear what plans the NHL has for potential postponement of games. Safety is a top priority for the league. With five personnel currently on the list, there’s an unfortunate likelihood that the list will grow in the coming days.
