Senators’ Thomas Chabot Leaves With Injury

The Ottawa Senators won’t be free from an injured blue line just yet. Captain Thomas Chabot left Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period. He was announced out with an upper-body injury, per TSN’s Bruce Garrioch. The injury seemed to occur on an awkward fall that smacked Chabot’s wrist or hand against the ankle of Philadelphia forward Trevor Zegras.

Four of Ottawa’s regular six defensemen have now missed time with injury, pointed out by Steve Warne of The Hockey News and TSN 1200. The Senators just received Artem Zub back from an injury sustained in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. They are still waiting for the return of Zub’s usual partner – and Ottawa’s top defender – Jake Sanderson, who is expected to return from an opening night injury on Wednesday.

Now, after beraing with injuries to their #1 and #3 defender, Ottawa will need to monitor an injury to their #2. Chabot has been a pillar of Ottawa’s hot start – recording four points, a plus-five, and 24 shot blocks through nine games so far. He has averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time each night, three minutes more than any other skater on the team. His absence will leave a glaring hole on Ottawa’s left-side.

The Senators are expected to add Sanderson back to the lineup in their next game. That should create a seamless replacement for Chabot – locking in Ottawa’s usual top pair while Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence operate as the second pair. Should Sanderson not be ready to go, the Senators could award extra minutes to any of Kleven, Spence, or Zub. Either way, the top pair will be leaned on to create offense from the blue line with Chabot out, whether that responsibility falls on Sanderson or Zub.

Ottawa only plays three games next week – Wednesday against Florida, Thursday against San Jose, and Saturday against the Rangers. A light week, full of home games, could afford the team some time as they try to get their captain back to full health.