When Ottawa Senators blueliner Thomas Chabot went down on March 23 with an arm injury against the New York Rangers, it seemed like the Sens were doomed. The loss of a top-pairing defenseman could have sunk the team’s playoff hopes.
The initial prognosis was four to six weeks following surgery to repair a broken forearm. But then, Chabot shocked the NHL world by returning just two weeks after the surgery. It seemed like he was a mutant or something, considering how fast he had “healed.”
But as Chabot revealed in his end-of-year media availability, they hadn’t healed. In fact, it was a clever medical procedure that allowed him to return to the ice before the broken bone had fully recovered.
"Plates and screws. That's what got me to play, to be honest."
Chabot added that a specialized cast protected his arm from contact while playing. That cast allowed the surgical implants to avoid additional injury.
"Plates and screws. That's what got me to play, to be honest." 😳
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2026
Thomas Chabot on playing through a broken forearm that is still weeks away from fully healing. pic.twitter.com/PmmJuWoN1X
Chabot’s return was a remarkable comeback that very few could have imagined. Of course, neither Chabot nor the Senators were going to reveal the extent of the surgical procedure. But now that the Sens are officially done for the season, the cat is out of the bag.
Chabot should be fully healthy for Senators training camp
With the entire summer ahead of him, it’s safe to assume that Chabot will be fully healthy for the Ottawa Senators' training camp in the fall. The Sens will be looking to make the postseason once again in 2026-27.
However, the aim won’t be to just make it into the playoffs. The onus will be to get beyond the first round. That situation, naturally, will depend on how division rivals reload for next season.
Making it out of the first round will also depend on the Senators themselves. Offseason additions plus more great play from stars like Chabot, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Linus Ullmark, and captain Brady Tkachuk will be crucial in giving the Senators a chance to make a deep postseason run in 2027.
All of that is purely expectation at this point. The team will have plenty of work ahead of them this offseason. There will be lineup holes to fill, contracts to sign, and, well, wounded warriors to heal.
The hope is that the Senators will pick up where they left off in the final stretch of the 2025-26 season.
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