The Ottawa Senators are no strangers to adversity this season, but their battered defence corps is being tested like never before. With star blueliner Jake Sanderson still working his way back from injury, the Senators have now absorbed another blow — Tyler Kleven has joined the walking wounded, leaving Ottawa's defensive depth stretched perilously thin.
A Blue Line Built on Depth (and Desperation)
Since the Olympic break wrapped up in late February, Ottawa has cycled through 12 different defencemen — a remarkable and somewhat staggering number that speaks to the injury chaos the organization has had to manage. Over the full season, that total climbs to 13. For context, most NHL teams are happy if their top-six defencemen stay healthy. The Senators have been running a small army through their own zone.
Kleven, the 23-year-old second-round pick who has been earning his stripes in the NHL this year, joins Sanderson on the injured list at a critical stretch of the season. His physical, hard-hitting style had been a welcome addition to the lineup, and losing him — even temporarily — removes an element of the Senators' defensive identity.
Sanderson's Return Can't Come Soon Enough
For Senators fans, the name on everyone's lips remains Jake Sanderson. The 22-year-old defenceman is widely considered Ottawa's best blue-liner and one of the most promising young defenders in the entire league. His absence has been felt acutely: the Senators have looked shakier in their own end, and the burden on veterans like Thomas Chabot has grown heavier by the game.
The organization has been cautiously optimistic about Sanderson's timeline, but has stopped short of giving a firm return date. Every day he's out, the Senators are essentially playing shorthanded on their most important unit.
Depth Calls Answered — For Now
To their credit, Ottawa's prospect pipeline and AHL affiliate have helped keep things afloat. Several call-ups have stepped in and held their own, which is a testament to the work being done at the development level. Still, there's no replacing elite talent with depth pieces, and the Senators know it.
Head coach Travis Green has had to get creative with pairings and deployment, shuffling combinations and relying on veterans to eat heavier minutes in high-leverage situations. It's the kind of challenge that can either forge a team's character or expose its limitations — and Ottawa will find out which it is over the coming weeks.
The Bigger Picture
For a Senators team that entered the season with genuine playoff aspirations, the injury situation on the back end is the story of their year. Ottawa has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, but sustaining that level with a revolving door of defencemen is an enormous ask.
If Sanderson returns soon and Kleven's injury proves minor, there's still time to right the ship. Ottawa fans — who have been patient through years of rebuilding — are holding their breath and hoping the blue line holds together just long enough.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
