Dzingel not talking about team absence
After spending four days away from the Ottawa Senators to deal with a family issue, Ryan Dzingel returned Tuesday.
Dzingel missed Ottawa’s past two games, against the New York Rangers on Saturday and in Nashville against the Predators on Monday. He was with family at his home in Wheaton, Ill., — 30 minutes outside of Chicago — but didn’t go into details about his absence.
“It’s between me and my family and some health issues and I appreciate everyone’s texts and prayers and stuff, but I just want to keep it at that, for now,” Dzingel said. “It’s nice to finally be back and join the guys and get to my normal routine.”
Dzingel, who is expected to play on a line with Jean- Gabriel Pageau and Marian Gaborik on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, will have a large cheering section behind him.
“I was here once, last year, and it was exciting because I had about 200 people waiting for me afterwards,” he said. “It will be a little less this year, but I’m still going to have 100-plus here.”
SHOWCASING PLAYERS?
With so many names floating around in trade talks, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction about who might really be on the move.
It also raises speculation about why some players are being put in some situations.
Maybe Pageau will be playing with Dzingel and Gaborik on Wednesday simply because Senators coach Guy Boucher wants to have legitimate offensive threats spread out across three lines.
Then again, it’s also intriguing to see Pageau on the first unit of the power play, where he scored in Ottawa’s 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday. If he shows off more offence, does his trade value improve?
IN COLUMBUS ...
The Blue Jackets are clinging, by their fingernails, to hopes of staying in the playoff race. It’s hard to do, given they entered their game against New Jersey on Tuesday (a 2-1 Blue Jackets win) having scored only 151 goals, 28th in the NHL in terms of offence. They also are expected to be without injured captain Nick Foligno for one or two weeks.
It’s believed if the price is right, Columbus will take a long look at Mike Hoffman and/or Derick Brassard. Brassard was drafted sixth overall by Columbus in 2006 and spent six seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to the New York Rangers.
Who might they be willing to part with? Maybe Boone Jenner, a 24-year-old centre/left winger who scored 30 goals in 2015-16. Jenner has struggled with only five goals and 12 assists this season.
DUMONT ON WAIVERS
Back in November, the Senators plucked Gabriel Dumont off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. There is now some belief the Lightning will claim Dumont back, after the Senators placed him on waivers Tuesday.
Either way, it appears Dumont, who registered one goal and one assist in 23 games with the Senators and dealt with a troublesome ankle injury, has likely played his last game for Ottawa.
Dumont’s loss is Max McCormick’s gain. McCormick has reestablished himself as a ball of hate and energy on a fourth line in recent weeks and he scored against Nashville.
BAD MEMORIES
The Blackhawks are about to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade and they have registered only one win in their past 10 games, but don’t tell the Senators they are no threat. On Jan. 9, Chicago spanked the Senators 8-2.