Anders Nilsson Could Miss Entire 2021 Season with Senators

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated 11/20/20

While the Ottawa Senators did well in adding Matt Murray in a trade this offseason, they’re getting some not-so great news when it comes to their other netminder Anders Nilsson. Senators’ goalie coach Pierre Groulx told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that Nilsson could miss the 2021 NHL season.

With the Senators moving in another direction in goal, how’s Anders Nilsson's concussion? https://t.co/ShZQ6t5D8N
— NHL Trade Talk (@nhl_tradetalk) September 24, 2020

After suffering a concussion at the end of last season, there was hope Nilsson might be ready to return for the start of the coming NHL season (whenever that was going to be). It doesn’t appear he’s on track to return as originally expected.

Garrioch writes:

… the expectation is he’ll start the season on long-term injury reserve. Dorion has stated that decision won’t be made until the organization can get him over to North America, but Nilsson is still suffering the effects of post-concussion syndrome back in Sweden.

A Big Opportunity for Hogberg

The Senators will likely need to call upon Marcus Hogberg to serve as the backup during the season if Nilsson isn’t able to make it back and the hope is that he’ll get some important minutes and take another step in his development. Nilsson is on the final year of his current contract and it would be good from an Ottawa perspective to know what they have in Hogberg.

The backup got into 24 games last season with the Sens and posted a 3.12 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: