Injury to Karlsson Has Senators Running on Replacements

Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The injuries are already piling up against the Ottawa Senators in the first month of the abbreviated season. The team learned that they will be without Erik Karlsson for the remainder of the season, due to the fact that he underwent surgery on Thursday to repair his lacerated Achillies.

Karlson injured his Achillies on what some are calling a malicious act on the part of Matt Cooke who stomped his skate down on the back of Karlson’s leg. However, the league has yet to issue any punishment.

The loss of Karlsson will definitely be a blow to the Senators, one in which they may not recover from. With his awe-inspiring brand of hockey and quick hands, he is one of the few reasons why Ottawa stays relevant year in and year out.

The injury could take all the wind out of the their sails.

“We just have to play the same way we have, but we know goals might not come as easy,” said captain Daniel Alfredsson. “The way we play is that we don’t wait for other teams to make mistakes we try to generate stuff when we have the puck and we’re going to continue to try doing that.”

The news comes on the heels of the team missing star center Jason Spezza, who could be out for the rest of the season with a back injury. Ottawa is also missing left-winger Milan Michalek, who is recovering from a strained knee and Guillaume Latendresse, who suffered a whiplash recently and is still feeling its effects.

With the team lacking depth, the Senators have made a play for reinforcements. The team announced it will recall defenseman Eric Gryba and forwards David Dziurzynski and Derek Grant from the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators. The trio will likely make their NHL debut on Saturday.