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How the Ottawa Senators Adjust Their Lineup When a Defenseman Is Out

Ottawa’s response to a defenseman’s absence can involve new pairings, a depth player, a call-up, or extra responsibility for an available regular.
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When a defenseman is unavailable, Ottawa can change its pairings, insert a depth player, consider a Belleville call-up, or give more responsibility to an available regular. The choice depends on who is healthy and ready, which pairings need to work, and what roles the lineup must cover. Recent examples show different solutions—not one fixed replacement formula.

Who replaces an injured Senators defenseman?

It depends on the situation. Ottawa has used a defender returning from outside the lineup, weighed a Belleville call-up against a regular nearing a return, and reshuffled partners at the same time as changing who plays.

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On March 9, 2026, after Jake Sanderson was ruled week to week, Artem Zub skated with Thomas Chabot, while Nikolas Matinpalo joined Nick Jensen on the third pair. Matinpalo had been out of the lineup for the previous 10 games. Asked about his return, coach Travis Green said, “No problem at all.” Ottawa Senators

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That was a game-specific arrangement: Zub took a different partner, and Matinpalo re-entered. It does not establish that Zub always takes Sanderson’s role or that Ottawa uses the same pairings whenever a defenseman is out.

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How does Ottawa choose between a returning player and a call-up?

Availability and readiness can decide whether the club uses a player already nearing a return or brings in someone from Belleville. On April 4, 2026, with Tyler Kleven week to week because of an upper-body injury, Green said either Sanderson, who was close to returning, or Belleville defenseman Jorian Donovan could replace him. Sanderson returned for that game. Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators

The reports document the options and the eventual choice, but not an official checklist for making it. In practical terms, the relevant questions include whether a player is cleared and ready, whether an NHL-experienced option is available, how a proposed pair fits, and which duties need covering.

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What happens when several defensemen are out?

A single absence can become a broader lineup challenge when other defenders are unavailable too. In its April 4 report, Ottawa listed Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, and Carter Yakemchuk as already missing alongside Kleven. Jordan Spence had stepped up to play a career-high 30:48 against Buffalo, and Cameron Crotty made his Senators debut in that game. Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators

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Those examples show two possible parts of the response: an available NHL defenseman may take on a larger workload, and organizational depth may reach the lineup. They do not establish that every player will receive the same minutes or duties when injuries accumulate.

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Why the missing defenseman’s role matters

Not all absences leave the same gap. NHL.com reported that in 2025–26 Sanderson averaged 24:50 per game and led Ottawa with 128 blocked shots; Zub averaged 2:51 of shorthanded ice time per game. These figures indicate different season workloads, not proof that a replacement was assigned the same work. NHL.com

When considering an actual game lineup, look beyond the name filling the open spot: the available reports point to pairing fit and workload as useful context, while the season figures help illustrate why an absence can affect different responsibilities.

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Is there a standard Senators replacement formula?

The documented cases point to flexibility, not a single formula. Ottawa changed partners and brought Matinpalo back for Sanderson’s absence; when Kleven was out, the club considered Donovan but used the returning Sanderson. In a more depleted situation, Spence logged a career-high workload and Crotty debuted.

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Chabot described the response to Sanderson’s absence as a group effort: “It’s on all of us, it’s the whole team, the D’s and the forwards to step up and play better.” Ottawa Senators That supports a collective response, but the report does not specify a fixed tactical system for handling injuries.

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How to check Ottawa’s lineup for a particular game

Injury status, recalls, loans, and game-day combinations can change. Ottawa’s September 2026 roster announcement listed nine defensemen—Thomas Chabot, Cameron Crotty, Tyler Kleven, Nikolas Matinpalo, Jake Sanderson, Jordan Spence, Hoyt Stanley, Carter Yakemchuk, and Artem Zub—but also said Jorian Donovan had been loaned to Belleville and Zub was designated an injured non-roster player. This is a roster snapshot, not confirmation of availability for a specific game. Ottawa Senators

For a current matchup, check the team’s latest injury reporting and game-day lineup rather than assuming that a past pairing or roster listing still applies.

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