It is possible that the Ottawa Senators have an alien on their team. Joking, but consider. The incident in question occurred only back on March 23rd, 2026, in a game against the New York Rangers. Ranger forward J.T. Miller gave Sens defenceman Thomas Chabot a solid crosscheck to the right forearm. So, let’s discuss what has happened since.
David Kirouac/CSM(Credit Image: © David Kirouac/Cal Sport Media
Thomas Chabot’s Return from Injury Provides Excellent Timing
When Miller hit Chabot, it was immediately noticeable that Chabot was in obvious pain. Sen fans feared the worst. Then, it was discovered he would require surgery. That is never a comforting sound on an injury of needing surgery. It makes you think that it will make for an extended timetable for return. Initially it was estimated anywhere between four-and-six weeks.
Therefore, it was a shock to Sen fans when they realized Chabot was back practicing a couple days ago. What wasn’t a shocker was that Chabot had on a non-contact jersey. Then, yesterday, at the Senators optional practice, Chabot was out there again. However, this time, he had shed the non-contact colours, for a regular jersey. Now, we were cautioned that this could be normal for people to use a regular jersey at an optional skate with low numbers. But what was surprising was that he was seen engaging in contact with teammates in puck battles. Finally, let’s bring us to today, game day, as the Sens prepare for battle against Atlantic Division foe, the Florida Panthers.
Just 17 days after suffering a broken arm, Thomas Chabot will return to the Senators lineup tonight against the Panthers, the team announced 🙌
Chabot was expected to miss 4-8 weeks after sustaining the injury on March 23 and then undergoing surgery. pic.twitter.com/V4PU80azLn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 9, 2026
When we saw the line rushes for practice, Chabot was firmly placed on the second pairing with Jordan Spence. Furthermore, Chabot was seen getting reps with the second power play. All clear indicators of a player ready to play. But it couldn’t be. He only broke his arm two-and-a-half weeks prior. An impossibility for him to be playing, for sure.
The Big News
Next, cue head coach Travis Green’s media availability following practice. Reporters were expectedly all over him, wondering about Chabot’s status. That’s when he dropped a proverbial (happy) bombshell. That being that Thomas Chabot would play tonight in a crucial game as the Ottawa Senators continue their push for Stanley Cup Playoff play in 2025-26.
After only two wins in the first six games without Chabot, the Sens are coming off two very impressive performances against top Eastern Conference teams (Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes). This has greatly increased the Sens chances at making the postseason.
Some Stats on Chabot’s Impact
Chabot’s absence is not to be understated. His ability to control the puck and command the game are very important to the Sens success. According to some stats from NHL Edge, he is among the best in the game in some of these type of categories. His season high of 6.93 kilometres skated in one game, puts him in the 92nd percentile among his peers. Moreover, it is perhaps his zone time that is most notable. On average, he spends 47% of time in the offensive zone that puts him in the 97th percentile. (The NHL average is 41.8%, for reference). That corresponds to his limited defensive zone time at 35.7%, good for the 96th percentile. His points-per-game of 0.56 puts him 29th among all NHL defencemen. In any sense, it is no trouble to see why he is such a major impact for his team.
As for the complete pairings to expect, we can go by practice from today. Along with Chabot and Spence, it seems Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub will be the number-one pairing, as per usual. Finally, the third pairing looks like it will be Lassi Thomson and Nikolas Matinpalo. Matinpalo isn’t a huge surprise, as he played well as a third pair guy in the 2025 NHL postseason. The surprise would be Thomson. He is a right shot, but has shown his abilities to adapt and mend the leak that has been the Sens defence of late.
Main Photo: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Batherson-Stützle-Giroux
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Foegele-Eller-ZetterlundSanderson-Zub
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*no Ullmark— Graeme Nichols (@GraemeNichols) April 9, 2026
