A pretty quiet training camp got a little more interesting last night when defensive prospect Mikael Wickstrand apparently bailed, against the wishes of the club, back to Sweden.
The Senators are in control of where he plays, and they don't seem willing to allow him to play in his home country for another season, and have apparently suspended him for the time being. Murray also indicated the Senators may sign a defenseman to a PTO in the wake of this situation.
According to Murray, the only hockey Wikstrand will be playing in Sweden is beer league #Sens
— Kyle Bukauskas (@SNkylebukauskas) September 25, 2015While full details on why Wickstrand made the decision aren't readily available, he hasn't played a game since suffering a shoulder injury in the first day of the Sens' rookie tournament, and has sat out the first three exhibition games.
The Senators had planned on sending him to Binghamton for some acclimation to the North American game and he would have been pretty high on the depth chart and near top of mind when a callup was required.
All in all, very puzzling decision and one that seems to be testing the Senators willpower. Don't know if that was a great career move.
That is, unless there was another reason,
Murray - Today I've heard there may be a sickness with his (Wikstrand's) brother, the first I heard about it. #Sens
— Murray Pam (@Pammerhockey) September 25, 2015But if that is the case, a phone call probably should have been made before he left, no?
We will see what happens in the coming days...
Some other notes for today:
GREENING OUT, HEARING FOR AKESON
Colin Greening hasn't skated since taking the hit from Jason Akeson in Buffalo, but was riding the bike today and might not be out long-term. Akeson has a hearing with NHL Player Safety, but I didn't think the hit was that bad, at least not worthy of supplementary discipline. There was no penalty called on the play, until after the fact when Travis Ewanyk took exception and stood up for his teammate and took Akeson to task. If Mark Borowiecki, for example, were to get the same opportunity to step into a guy skating with his head down, I would expect him to take it as well and wouldn't expect anything to come of it.
PUEMPEL NICKED UP
Shane Prince's quest for a roster spot might have gotten a little clearer this morning, as Matt Puempel, the player he is battling with for the spot left practice today with an apparent injury. Hopefully it is something minor and will not keep him out long.
PAUL, CLAESSON JOIN NHL GROUP
With the absence of Greening, Nick Paul joined the NHL group for today's skate, along with defenseman Freddie Claesson.