Friday: The Senators have confirmed that Pageau suffered a torn Achilles, and will miss a minimum of six months.
Thursday: For Ottawa Senators fans, today is not a good day. After the team dealt away franchise defenseman Erik Karlsson, they have also been dealt a hefty injury blow during the first day of training camp. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was injured during the morning fitness testing, and Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that he could need surgery and a four to six month recovery timeline to repair an Achilles tendon.
Pageau was penciled into the second line center role for the Senators this season and is coming off another fine season with 14 goals and 29 points. A playoff hero in 2017, the 25-year old is a solid two-way player that can take on tough defensive matchups and be a contributor in all situations. If he’s forced to miss months that role probably will go to newly acquired Chris Tierney, and clearly weakens the Senators overall.
With just two years remaining on his current contract Pageau was repeatedly asked about in trade talks this offseason and is still likely one of the Senators biggest chips. Many teams would love to have a reliable player like him in the bottom half of their lineup, especially given his relatively inexpensive $3.1MM cap hit. With an injury like this those phone calls may stop for a while, but not forever. If the Senators are truly committed to an entire rebuild, you can bet Pageau’s name will resurface down the line as a potential option for teams looking at center help.
The team will address the recovery timeline tomorrow.
OH MY GOD
Ottawa season ticket holders must be really excited to see Zach Smith (and his -32) get 20:00min a night as their 2nd line center now.
I actually feel bad for Ottawa fans. Nothing to cheer for. Not even tanking to get Jack Hughes
:(
They do have something to cheer for. The sweet sweet relief they will get when the team either folds or is moved.
But yes in all seriousness, the NHL cap system was meant to ensure all teams were on equal playing ground but first Phoenix and now this cheap a$$ owner show that you only cap the top teams. if guys don’t want to spend money, they will find ways around it.
If all their FA leave (which I would imagine Stone, Duchane will) how will they reach the cap floor? I can’t see massive overpayment by this owner to be competitive – so few FAs will sign.
Future looks bleak in Ottawa
That’s why trading Ryan made no sense. They certainly wouldn’t reach the floor if both he and karlsson and stone and Duchene left.
all this is going to do is drive up the price he pays players to meet the cap floor. what’s better than paying your franchise player 11 million per season? paying 3 third liners 3 million each.
It’s clear this guy doesn’t get it but dorion is just a puppet.
The only thing as a fan that makes me feel ok is that even if they do come dead last, Colorado only has a 20 percent chance at Hughes
I guess the good news would be that they dont actually have to tank to get him.
Problem is, Colorado would be the one getting him if that is the case.
^this
1st rounder and Turris for Duchane was maybe one of the worst trades I can recall. Colorado came out with a top 4 pick, a 2nd, a 3rd a good D prospect in Girard, got Kamenev, and got rid of Duches attitude from the locker room. T
So it is possible to get a lot for good players – except they didn’t learn anything from Joe Sakic and got peanuts.
What’s this “Duchene attitude” that you speak of?
You know its bad when a dude cuts his own Achilles so he doesn’t have to be part of the team.
In all seriousness, hope he has a speedy recovery.
Man, what a CURSED NHL franchise ottawa truly is at this point. Could it be from that fraudulent 1st round cheated to series “win” in the posteason against the Bruins a couple seasons back that led to a SC appearance? Don’t know for sure, but ottawa is fast approaching toronto/montreal notoriety with the owner/fan base/players/drama etc. Ya know those “old time” canadian teams, TWO NHL franchises that used to CHEAT to Stanley Cups on the regular. LOL. It’s been a “long time” since “dem” days, huh? HA HA. OUCH.
Say what you want about Peter Tard’elli sucking at trades, but that Seguin deal honestly wasn’t half as bad as the Turris & extras for Duchene deal. WOW. What a COLOSSAL MISFIRE. #FAIL. Nice win for Colorado for a guy that shouldn’t have fetched half of that deal and who everyone who follows the NHL KNEW the Avs had to move ASAP.