Ottawa Senators

Does Brassard's surgery open the door for White? & Is it a good thing?
June 7, 2017, 8:29 AM ET [4 Comments]
Jared Crozier
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Centre Derick Brassard had surgery on his shoulder yesterday to repair a torn labrum that he played through during the playoffs.

The expected recovery time is 4-5 months, meaning it will be close to the start of the regular season if it is closer to the 4 month time frame.

However, if it is closer to the 5 month range, does that open the window for Colin White to at least start the season with the Senators?

White is the blue chip forward prospect in the system, and along with Thomas Chabot represent a big piece of the future of the franchise.

I think after the way the Senators seemingly mis-managed Curtis Lazar and his development (you can argue where his ceiling actually lied till the cows come home, but the fact is he was rushed unnecessarily) and I think there is a majority of the fan base who would rather see the organization take the slow approach with White.

But, if Brassard cannot start the season at full speed, there is going to be a temptation to give White the opportunity to make a statement with an audition to open the season. Of course, I think he will have to earn it, but the roster has been riddled with players who have been rushed, showed something early on and then been kept around, only to take steps back (Jared Cowen, Cody Ceci, Lazar, even back to Robin Lehner for that matter). Hopefully they have learned from the past, and do not repeat the mistakes. You do have to treat each situation on its own, but again we aren't talking about top 5 picks, we are talking middle of the first round selections that more often than not can use some AHL seasoning before full time NHL duty.

As much as you want to see top prospects perform at the NHL level as soon as possible. The last leadership group didn't seem to have the necessary patience to let them develop, or at least give them the best chance to do so, which might have been their biggest failing during the latter stages of the Bryan Murray era. White (and Chabot for that matter) will be Pierre Dorion's first real opportunity to do so as the guy in charge, and it will be interesting because he was part of that leadership group that made those decisions that in hindsight were almost to a man, the wrong one, or at least very questionable.