The Ottawa Senators have surged back into the playoff race, winning nine of their last 11 games to climb into a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 85 points and roughly 11 games remaining.
However, just as momentum was building, Ottawa was dealt a significant blow when defenseman Thomas Chabot was set to miss time following surgery, a development that quickly drew reaction across the NHL.
NHL Reacted to Thomas Chabot’s Injury Timeline
Chabot is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to fix a broken arm. The injury happened during Monday’s 2-1 win over the New York Rangers, when J.T. Miller delivered a hard cross-check to Chabot’s forearm late in the first period.
Chabot immediately dropped his stick, grabbed his arm in pain, and skated off the ice. He didn’t return to the game and also missed the Senators’ 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
With a recovery timeline of up to two months, Chabot could be out until deep into the playoffs, possibly the Eastern Conference Final if Ottawa makes it that far. It’s a tough loss for the Senators, as he’s been a key part of their defense, posting 31 points in 55 games with a plus-6 rating while averaging 22:34 of ice time.
The injury timeline sparked reactions from around the hockey world. ESPN analyst Greg Wyshynski summed it up in one word: “Woof.”
Woof. https://t.co/GUS2SBAl6s
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 26, 2026
Reporter Claire Hanna shared an update on multiple senators’ injuries, noting that Jake Sanderson is day-to-day beyond Friday with an upper-body issue.
Chabot is expected to miss four to eight weeks following right arm surgery. Dennis Gilbert is expected to miss about three weeks due to an upper-body injury, and Lassi Thomson is considered slightly more than day-to-day.
Summary of injuries for the #Sens and timelines for return:
Jake Sanderson (upper body) – day to day beyond Friday
Thomas Chabot (right arm surgery) – 4-8 weeks
Dennis Gilbert (upper body) – 3 weeks
Lassi Thomson (lower body) – a bit more than day to day
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) March 26, 2026
Meanwhile, NHL analyst Jeff Marek reacted simply with “Ugh,” reflecting the frustration surrounding the news.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) March 26, 2026
Another analyst, E.J. Hradek, called it “Terrible luck,” adding that the injury came on a play late in the period that many viewed as unnecessary.
If the playoffs began today, Ottawa would likely face one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, such as the Carolina Hurricanes or the Buffalo Sabres, both sitting at 96 points. The Senators are currently tied with the New York Islanders at 85 points, but Ottawa holds the edge thanks to a game in hand and more regulation wins.
Losing Chabot at this stage is a major setback for a team trying to solidify its postseason position. His minutes, puck-moving ability, and leadership on the back end will be difficult to replace as the Senators push toward the playoffs.
Ottawa will look to keep its momentum going despite the setback when it faces the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
