Senators Recall Mads Søgaard, Anton Forsberg Likely Headed To LTIR…
The Ottawa Senators have made a strategic move by recalling their top goalie prospect, Mads Søgaard, from AHL Belleville, as announced in a team release. This decision is seen as a probable response to the anticipated placement of the team’s second-string netminder, Anton Forsberg, on long-term injured reserve. The financial constraints of the Senators make it crucial to open up cap space for this transaction to take place.
Forsberg, aged 31, suffered a groin injury during Thursday night’s game against the Sabres, forcing him to exit the match late in the first period without making a return. While head coach Jacques Martin conveyed that Forsberg’s absence would not be short-term, the exact severity of the injury and the corresponding recovery timeline were pending an MRI conducted on Friday.
The goaltending situation in Ottawa has been challenging throughout the season, particularly for Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo. Forsberg, who missed the final 32 games of the previous season due to a double MCL tear, aimed to re-establish himself but faced adversity. Both he and Korpisalo rank among the league’s ten worst goalies this season, with Korpisalo allowing the third-highest goals above expected, according to MoneyPuck.
With Forsberg’s likely placement on long-term injured reserve sidelining him until early February, the spotlight now shifts to 23-year-old Mads Søgaard. This promotion marks his longest stint on the NHL roster this season. The towering 6-foot-7 Dane, drafted in the second round in 2019, had previously been recalled twice this season as short-term injury insurance. Although he hasn’t played an NHL game since last season, he demonstrated his capabilities with an 8-6-3 record and a.889 save percentage during that stint.
Søgaard has excelled in the AHL this season with Belleville, boasting a.920 save percentage in 16 games, tying him for sixth place among AHL goaltenders with at least ten appearances. This remarkable improvement over his previous seasons indicates positive momentum, making his potential NHL appearances crucial for the Senators. Søgaard could potentially vie for a majority of starts, at least until Forsberg’s return in early February, offering a promising alternative to Korpisalo in the team’s goaltending lineup.
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