It was a good news Monday for the Ottawa Senators. Jake Sanderson returned to practice with his teammates at the Florida Panthers practice facility. Appearing in a yellow non-contact jersey, it was Sanderson’s first time skating with the Senators’ main group since sustaining an upper-body injury on March 7 in Seattle.
To their credit, the team has played well in Sanderson’s absence, posting a 7-3-1 record. But now with Thomas Chabot also succumbing to injury, missing the past three games, and not returning after undergoing arm surgery for a broken bone, it’s becoming that much tougher for the Senators depleted defense. In eight full games minus Sanderson in the lineup, Chabot played more than 27 minutes in seven, including a high of 30:53 versus the New York Islanders.
Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence have taken on larger elevated roles and are performing admirably.
Rookies Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan have performed their best, especially after jumping into a pressure cooker situation during a tight playoff race. Donovan has since returned to Belleville. Lassi Thomson who sustained a minor injury himself in the same Rangers’ game as Chabot, returned to the lineup Saturday.
Travis Green confirmed Sanderson won’t play Tuesday versus the Panthers, but with only seven games remaining after this one, there’s hope the Senators no.1 d-man will return sooner than later.
“Obviously, a sight for sore eyes, anytime one of your top guys is out of the lineup, and you know you miss him, it’s nice to have him back in practice. He looked sharp. But that’s a good sign he’s back out there,” said the Senators’ head coach.
Senators’ signings
Kevin Reidler
The team made some off-ice news to start the week by announcing a pair of signings. Goalie Kevin Reidler and defenseman Hoyt Stanley each signed entry-level contracts starting in the 2026-27 campaign. Both will join the Senators American Affiliate in Belleville on amateur try-outs for the remainder of this season.
Selected 151st overall by the Senators in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Reidler inked a two-year ELC. The native of Gavle, Sweden, played 18 games for Penn State University this past season, posting an 11-7-0 record, 3.31 goals against average, and .901 save percentage.
“This year at Penn State has meant the world to me, not only as a hockey player, but as a person. My time as a Nittany Lion has prepared me in the best possible way to take this next step in my career, and for that, I will be forever grateful,” said the native of Gavle, Sweden, per the Penn State Hockey website.
“To the fans, I want to thank you all for the endless support throughout the season. Penn State has the best fans in all of college hockey, and it has been an honor to play in front of you this year. You are what makes this place so special. Penn State will always hold a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t be prouder to call myself a Penn Stater for life.”
The six-foot-six goaltender has been a bit of a hockey nomad since the Senators drafted him from AIK Jr.
Reidler made the jump to North America at age 19, playing for Dubuque in the United States Hockey League, leading his team to the USHL Final. Reidler was named a Second-Team All-Star.
Appearing in only eight games the following season in a back-up role at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Reidler transferred to Penn State in what was his final collegiate campaign.
Hoyt Stanley
Selected 108th overall by the Senators in the 2023 Entry Draft, Stanley signed a three-year ELC.
A right-shot defenseman, at six-foot-three, 201 pounds, Stanley is a deceptive mobile skater who displays strong puck-handling skill. Over three seasons at Cornell University, the Vancouver resident registered seven goals, 31 assists in 105 games, including three goals, 12 assists in 34 games in his junior NCAA season.
An All-American scholar the past two years, majoring in hotel administration, Stanley was a finalist for the 2025-26 ECAC Hockey defensive defenseman of the year.
An Erik Karlsson fan growing up, Stanley hopes to become the second player attending Cornell to play for the Ottawa Senators. Forward Colin Greening spent four years with the BIg Red, going on to play 273 games for Ottawa between 2010 and 2016.
Home › Forums › Senators Notes: Sanderson, Signings
Tagged: nhl, Ottawa Senators