The Ottawa Senators got good and bad news on Thursday.
The good news is that defenceman Artem Zub will make his season debut against the New York Islanders, head coach Travis Green told reporters after morning skate.
Zub hasn't played this season as he was recovering from a knee injury suffered during last year's post-season.
Thursday's game will mark Zub's first in 180 days.
Cameron Crotty will also make his return to the blue line on Thursday. Jorian Donovan and Hoyt Stanley were loaned back to AHL Belleville to make room for Zub and Crotty, the team announced.
The bad news?
Green said that forward William Eklund will be out 10-12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an ankle tendon.
Eklund left Ottawa's 2-1 win over visiting Philadelphia last week after taking a hit from defenceman Simon Benoit.
The 23-year-old Swede has a goal and an assist in four games so far this season.
The Senators acquired Eklund in June for part of a package that sent the ninth pick in the 2026 NHL draft to San Jose.
In other Senators injury news, defenceman Jake Sanderson won't make his return on Thursday, but Green said he's "close."
“I’m not going to say (Sanderson’s) in next game, but he obviously looks good out there, skated well today," Green said. We’re going to make sure that he’s ready.”
Sanderson has been out of the lineup after re-aggravating a lower-body injury in the Senators' season opener.
Green said that Ridly Greig is also fine after getting banged up in Tuesday's loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Despite a number of key injuries, the Senators are off to a 5-2-0 start to the season.
