After Thursday's practice, we heard about Thomas Chabot's injury, Claude Giroux's high compete level and Tim Stutzle's self-evaluation.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot missed all of November with a hand injury and now, two games after his return, he's being forced to deal with a knee injury. Chabot will miss his second straight game Thursday night against Toronto, but head coach DJ Smith provided a hint of optimism about the prognosis.
Smith was asked if the delay in being able to give information about Chabot's diagnosis was a good sign.
"There is a chance," Smith said. "That's what we're hoping. But, again, we'll see more here in the next day...Doctors are waiting to clarify some things. And it's obviously over my pay grade or knowledge. I'm just waiting for them to tell me exactly.”
Meanwhile, after the Senators finished practice, Tim Stutzle was asked by The Hockey News-Ottawa how he’d evaluate his own performance through the first 20 games of the season.
“It’s all right," Stutzle said. “I think I got the puck way more. Getting the chances, but haven't really scored. But yeah, I'm getting the chances and the looks.”
Stutzle leads the Senators with 24 points, while Claude Giroux, who turns 36 next month, is next on the team with 19. Both Stutzle and Jakob Chychrun marvel at Giroux’s competitiveness.
“Sometimes (Giroux) looks out there like he's 25 again,” Stutzle said. “He's just so strong on pucks, such a smart player and he knows exactly what to do in every kind of situation.
"What's most impressive for me is he’s 60% from the faceoff dot. He's taken all the important draws and he's been winning them for us.”
Giroux also has an admirer in Chychrun.
“Aw, G’s the best, man. I love that guy,” Chychrun said. “He's the ultimate competitor, whether it's on the ice, at a pool table, at a card game, everything. This guy wants to win at everything he does and it's contagious in this room. He’s a big leader for us and a guy that brings guys into the fight with him.
"He's someone we all look up to and a special player."
The Senators will try for their third straight win at home Thursday night when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs.