Jake Sanderson’s Senators' Return Could Be Bigger Than It Looks

Some training camp news seems pretty ordinary until you think about what it might mean once the season gets going. Jake Sanderson being healthy for the Ottawa Senators is one of those pieces.

Sanderson missed time with a concussion, so the first bit of good news is obvious: he's healthy and ready for training camp. That's important enough on its own. But Sanderson isn't just another defenceman in Ottawa. He had 14 goals and 54 points in 67 games last season, and the Senators need that kind of player on the ice if they're going to take another step.

Sanderson Is More Than Just Another Defenceman.

The interesting part is what Ottawa can do with Sanderson now that he's healthy. The Senators have a lot of young talent on the blue line, but Sanderson has already moved beyond the prospect stage. He's becoming one of the players Ottawa can build its defence around. That changes the way you look at training camp.

And then there is Carter Yakemchuk. Sanderson skated alongside Yakemchuk on Thursday, and there's at least a possibility that the two could begin the season together. Yakemchuk is still figuring out the NHL. He played both in Ottawa and Belleville last season, and he's one of the 18 defencemen at this year's Senators camp. Pairing him with Sanderson would give Ottawa an interesting combination: one young defenceman who has already established himself and another who is still trying to find his footing.

Maybe Ottawa Is Looking Ahead.

There is always a temptation at training camp to read too much into a practice pairing. One skate doesn't mean a coach has made a decision, and Travis Green has plenty of time to experiment before the regular season begins. Still, sometimes these things are worth noticing.

If Sanderson and Yakemchuk do become a regular pairing, Ottawa would be putting some of its future on the ice together. Sanderson could provide the experience and stability while Yakemchuk learns what it takes to handle NHL minutes consistently.

For Sanderson, though, the bigger story is simply getting back to being Jake Sanderson. A healthy Sanderson gives Ottawa another important piece of its defence. A productive Sanderson gives the Senators something more: a defenceman who can contribute offensively while becoming a bigger part of the team's identity.

And maybe that's the real significance of this little training-camp update. Sometimes “good to go” isn't just an injury report. Sometimes it's the first indication that an important part of a team's future is ready to get started again.