{"id":487456,"date":"2026-04-09T14:43:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=487456"},"modified":"2026-04-17T19:36:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T23:36:15","slug":"ahead-of-panther-game-ottawa-senators-have-welcomed-surprise-on-blueline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/04\/09\/ahead-of-panther-game-ottawa-senators-have-welcomed-surprise-on-blueline\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahead of Panther Game, the Ottawa Senators have Welcomed Surprise on Blueline"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is possible that the Ottawa Senators<\/a> 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<\/a> gave Sens defenceman Thomas Chabot<\/a> a solid crosscheck to the right forearm. So, let\u2019s discuss what has happened since.<\/p>\n

David Kirouac\/CSM(Credit Image: \u00a9 David Kirouac\/Cal Sport Media<\/p>\n

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Thomas Chabot\u2019s Return from Injury Provides Excellent Timing<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Therefore, it was a shock to Sen fans when they realized Chabot was back practicing a couple days ago. What wasn\u2019t 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\u2019s bring us to today, game day, as the Sens prepare for battle against Atlantic Division foe, the Florida Panthers.<\/p>\n

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Just 17 days after suffering a broken arm, Thomas Chabot will return to the Senators lineup tonight against the Panthers, the team announced \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n

Chabot was expected to miss 4-8 weeks after sustaining the injury on March 23 and then undergoing surgery. pic.twitter.com\/V4PU80azLn<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n