Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson is expected to play in the team’s opening game Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Both head coach Travis Green and Sanderson stopped shy of guaranteeing he will be in the lineup, but acknowledged all signs are pointing that way.
The Senators loaned defenceman Hoyt Stanley to AHL Belleville earlier on Friday, signalling Sanderson’s return.
Sanderson has been dealing with an undisclosed injury since Saturday’s preseason contest against the Montreal Canadiens. He departed the game and missed some practices this week.
Sanderson is heading into his fifth NHL season with Ottawa since being selected with the fifth-overall pick in 2020. He had 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in 67 games last season.
Winger Warren Foegele will be in the lineup for the opener after missing training camp while recovering from off-season surgery.
Defenceman Artem Zub will not play Saturday, but was on the ice for practice Friday morning while sporting a yellow non-contact jersey. It marked the first time Zub has hit the ice this season as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury.
Stanley, a fourth-round pick by Ottawa in 2023, turned pro at the end of last season after wrapping up his junior season at Cornell.
The 21-year-old had a goal in six appearances with Belleville to end the season.
