Brännström recalled, COVID Protocols, Eichel Surgery and more!

Let’s get to some Links, some News, and maybe even some Notes:

• Late Sunday night, Sens fans got the news they’ve been waiting for:/

Roster update: The #Sens have placed defenceman Nick Holden (and associate coach Jack Capuano) in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
 
In a related move, the team has recalled defenceman Erik Brannstrom from @BellevilleSens.

— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) November 8, 2021

That’s right, the man with the power to fix the defense all by himself is finally back in Ottawa. I jest, but I do think expectations are pretty sky high for Brännström’s eventual return to the line-up. Will the coaching staff be satisfied if he’s only good and not excellent? Will the fans? That being said, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be worse than what we’ve seen so far from everyone on the Sens’ blueline not named Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub.

• The first part of that Sens comms dispatch is more than a bit disquieting, however. With Austin Watson already in COVID protocol, Nick Holden and Jack Capuano bring the total to three members of the team and staff. I’ve written about this before, but I don’t expect this will be the last brush the team has with COVID protocols this season.
• As you may have heard, Brady Tkachuk was named Captain on Friday. Wayne Scanlan had a nice profile of Brady and the role he wants to play in the community.
• Carey Price, who had been voluntarily taking part in the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program will re-join the Habs today. There is currently no timetable for his return to play.
• Now that the Jack Eichel trade has been completed, the young centre will avail himself of his preferred method of surgery on November the 12th. Eichel’s claiming to be targeting twelve weeks of recovery, a timeframe that would get him back in time for the Olympics. It’s also worth noting that, by his own admission, Eichel doesn’t expect to feel 100% until six months. For everything that’s led up to this point, let’s hope he isn’t rushing back into another serious injury.
• With Chicago on the lookout for a new permanent head coach after firing Jeremy Colliton on Saturday, Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers have pulled together a list of potential candidates for the job. It’s most just the usual boring retreads, but they do mention Rikard Gronborg who is reportedly the latest European whiz.
• After thrashing the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2, the Florida Panthers are off to 10-0-1 start; tied for the best mark in NHL history after 11 games. Florida is a deep, impressive team and they’re out to show their breakout performance last year was no fluke. You might be surprised to learn who is tied for their scoring lead, though.
• Lastly, Greg Wyshynski has a fun, if way too early, look at where we might be headed when it comes to end of season awards. /