Senators enter opener with Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub sidelined; defensive depth tested

# What happened

Three days before the Ottawa Senators' season opener in Toronto, Jake Sanderson — the team's top-minute, top-impact defenseman — did not take part in the main team practice. Head coach Travis Green said Sanderson "skated today on his own" after leaving the second period of a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens. Green added the issue that kept Sanderson out wasn't related to the problem that limited him during most of training camp, and that the club would monitor his readiness for the weekend.

# How Ottawa adjusted its blue line

With Sanderson and Zub listed as injured, Green used practice reps to reshuffle pairings. The reported defensive groupings at that practice were:

• Thomas Chabot — Jordan Spence
• Tyler Kleven — Carter Yakemchuk
• Nikolas Matinpalo — Cameron Crotty
• Hoyt Stanley (seventh defenseman reps)

The rookie Hoyt Stanley received significant reps, including a strong pairing with Sanderson in the preseason game versus Montreal before Sanderson exited. That trial suggested Stanley can handle heavier minutes if needed. The coaching staff also considered sliding Matinpalo to the right side or using Stanley in a larger role if Sanderson is unavailable for the opener.

Carter Yakemchuk started camp beside Sanderson on the top pair but was moved down to the third pairing with Kleven. The staff's reasoning: Kleven brings two full NHL seasons of steadiness, while Yakemchuk needs more development in defensive-zone structure and one-on-one defending.

# What others said about Sanderson

Former Senators defenseman Brendan Bell praised Sanderson's skating and development, placing him comfortably among the NHL's top defensemen and noting teammates speak highly of his dedication and quick improvement on weaknesses.

Green's public comments were limited to Sanderson skating on his own and that the team hoped he'd rejoin practice when it felt right. With Ottawa not practicing Thursday, the next window to assess came on Friday before the team traveled to Toronto.

# Immediate implications

• If Sanderson can't go for opening night, Ottawa faces decisions about whether to promote Stanley to the top pairing, slide Matinpalo over, or reassign minutes across the group.

• The moves give younger defenders like Yakemchuk and Stanley meaningful opportunities to prove they can handle larger roles, but they also highlight matching minutes concerns for a team that relies heavily on Sanderson.

# Next checkpoints

Ottawa's next practice session and Friday's travel day will provide clearer signals on Sanderson's availability for Saturday's opener in Toronto. Zub's status will depend on the pace of his rehab and any additional evaluations the team conducts.