The Senators sent rookie defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward Alex Formenton to Belleville (AHL) and London (OHL) respectively, paving the way for a return of Erik Karlsson tomorrow night.
While Formenton was a foregone conclusion and will be better for the time he spent with the team, he has a lot of growing to do and he will be able to do that playing big minutes in junior in all situations.
Chabot, on the other hand, is probably more of a hot-button issue as his skill dictates he is NHL caliber, but in reality, he has some seasoning to do, and the AHL level is the best for that. He can play in all situations in Belleville, and get 25-30 minutes a night, rather than the 10 or 12 he would get in Ottawa.
Chabot could stay and play, and he wouldn't be out of place, but the Senators have made the mistake of rushing prospects before, and that list is rather long. He was needed in a pinch, and he showed that in a short term he is adequate as a fill-in. Is he better than Chris Wideman or Mark Borowiecki at this point in time? Perhaps, but their development is essentially done and they are what they are. The Senators have higher expectations for Chabot and allowing him to expand his skill set, make mistakes and learn from them at the minor league level will be the most beneficial in the long term for the player and the organization.
While the temptation to keep him around might have been great, in the end the Senators have made the right decision with their prized prospect, whether he needs half a season, a full season or even more to get closer to his full potential.