Clarke MacArthur Will Return To NHL Action

After missing nearly two full seasons with concussion problems, Clarke MacArthur will return to the lineup tonight for the Ottawa Senators. MacArthur last played a regular season game in the NHL on October 14th, 2015. Senators GM Pierre Dorion says that multiple doctors cleared him over a week ago, and that the team wanted his first game to be at home. Even his teammates were surprised to see his name in the lineup, as he was still expected to miss the entire season. 

MacArthur suffered his fourth concussion in an 18-month period when he was hit in training camp by prospect Patrick Sieloff, a collision that sparked a brawl between teammates. MacArthur was then shut down in January when it was deemed that it was too dangerous to return to hockey this season. Many people believed that his career was over, though MacArthur would never admit that and always maintained that he would return this year. With the Senators barely holding on to a playoff spot and the Tampa Bay Lightning breathing down their necks, MacArthur’s return could pay off if he can return to his previous form.

A three-time 20-goal scorer, MacArthur was an extremely effective possession winger who could fit in alongside almost any type of play style and find success. Moving up and down the lineup, he’s been considered a solid two-way player mainly because of how easily he could retrieve and move the puck. He’s also an effective powerplay player, which he will be put on right away tonight. 34 of his 133 career goals have come on the powerplay, something the Senators have had trouble with this season—they rank 23rd in the league in PP%.

While his return is a heartwarming story, it will bring the brain injury discussion to the forefront once again as a player returns earlier than expected. Despite installing their concussion protocol and spotters in every rink, the NHL is embroiled in a legal battle about brain injuries and the possible development of CTE. While they fight that battle in the courtrooms, every hit MacArthur takes will make fans and league officials alike wince and hope for no further injury. With Aaron Ekblad recently returning “too soon”, it would be a blow to the NHL should MacArthur suffer a setback now.