Just In: Senators get positive news on injured goaltender
The Senators may receive goaltending assistance when they return to action following their bye week next Saturday. According to a report by Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, Anton Forsberg is making good progress in his recovery from a groin injury and could potentially be activated from LTIR for their upcoming game against Toronto.
At 31 years old, Forsberg is currently in the second year of a three-year, $8.25 million contract that he signed in 2022 during one of his best NHL seasons. However, his performance has declined since then, with a 3.35 goals-against average (GAA) and a .889 save percentage (SV%) in 16 games this season. Despite these numbers being below his standard, they still outshine the stats of Mads Sogaard, who filled in for Forsberg, making Forsberg’s return a notable improvement for the team.
The Senators might get goalie help for their next game after the bye week next Saturday. As per a report by Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, Anton Forsberg is recovering well from a groin injury and could come off LTIR for the upcoming match against Toronto.
Currently 31 years old, Forsberg is in the second season of a three-year, $8.25 million deal he inked in 2022 during one of his best NHL seasons. However, his performance has dipped since then, with a 3.35 goals-against average (GAA) and an .889 save percentage (SV%) in 16 games this season. While below his usual standards, these numbers still surpass those of Mads Sogaard, who stepped in for Forsberg. Therefore, Forsberg’s return is set to be an improvement for the team.
Winger Zack MacEwen and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker successfully cleared waivers earlier this season, but there’s no guarantee they would clear again if placed on waivers. MacEwen is on a three-year contract at the league minimum salary, making him an attractive option for a team seeking additional toughness on the ice. On the other hand, Bernard-Docker has been a regular on the third defensive pairing and, being a young right-handed defenseman who has gained some NHL experience, he may draw interest from rebuilding teams looking to claim him. If either of them were to be claimed, it would marginally bring the team under the salary cap, leaving little room for player recalls if necessary.
If GM Steve Staios prefers not to risk losing one of the two players and has no imminent trade prospects, another alternative could be to place Dominik Kubalik on waivers. Kubalik has reportedly been available for a couple of months without any takers. With a 2.5 millionn salary cap hit. enabling them to activate Forsberg. It may not be the most ideal solution, but it could serve as a temporary fix.
Since Ottawa is among the few teams playing leading up to the All-Star break, Staios has some time, roughly a week, to figure out how to manage the financial situation. Despite having postponed addressing the looming salary cap issues for a significant part of the season, the time has now arrived to confront and resolve them.
