Chabot has played in only nine of Ottawa's 19 games this season, scoring no goals and 4 assists.
Thomas Chabot can't catch a break.
The Ottawa Senators' defenceman just missed all of November with a hand injury. Two games into his return, now he's got a knee injury. The question is, how serious is it?
After Chabot sat out practice the past two days, head coach DJ Smith announced this morning the 26-year-old won't play in tonight's game against the New York Rangers, the best team in the NHL right now.
"He had some discomfort on Monday," Smith said. "So we sent him for an MRI. We're waiting on results, but he's unavailable to us tonight. We'll know more as the day goes on."
Well, that doesn't sound good.
Chabot left the game against Seattle on Saturday night, favouring his leg, but later returned to finish the game. After a day off on Sunday, the knee started barking at him again on Monday.
Chabot has no goals and four assists in nine games this season.
The news comes just as the Senators seemed to be getting healthy. Centre Ridly Greig will return to the lineup tonight to play in his first game since November 2nd. That leaves only Mark Kastelic still on the injured list, pending Chabot's MRI news later today.
"It's unfortunate," Smith said. "(Chabot) breaks the puck out so well. He does so many things well. Our O-zone time had really crept its way up. There's nothing you can do about it... Yeah, it hurts, but what can you do? You have to have the 'next guy up' mentality."
Smith was also asked about Chabot finishing the last game and whether momentum carried him through, despite the injury.
"I've said openly that Chabot is as tough a player as I've coached," Smith said. "When people say 'tough', they think about fighting or whatever. This is the second injury (Chabot) has had this year where he's played through the game and then eventually they have to pull you out.
"He's a tough kid. He wants to help this team win. It's unfortunate."