The Ottawa Senators got some good news on the health front today, as they activated both Bobby Ryan and Mark Borowiecki from injured reserve. The Senators are off until Thursday, when the pair are expected to get into the lineup.
Ryan is coming back off his latest finger injury, the fifth consecutive season he’s had to deal with a hand problem of some sort. The top-paid player on the Senators was off to a pretty good start this year, with six assists in eight games. Though he hadn’t been able to score a goal himself, he had already put up a quarter of his point total from all of last season.
The 30-year old forward silenced many critics in the playoffs last season, when he came to life as one of the team’s best players. With 15 points in 19 games, he was a huge part of the Senators coming within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals. He’ll likely see time next to Ottawa newcomer Matt Duchene, hopefully finding some early chemistry. That duo will be counted on this season, as they combine for $13.25MM in salary this year.
Borowiecki is also an important piece who has faced some controversy among fans and media. His hard-nosed play style can sometimes be seen as a throwback to an NHL far gone, but continually his teammates speak highly of him both on and off the ice. Borowiecki is a wrecking ball on the ice, recording 28 hits in just nine games this season. That total puts him ahead of all but one defender on the team (Frederik Claesson) despite having missed seven games.