In a sad turn of events, the 25-year-old breakout two-way star was injured at the team's physical exam during training camp, tearing his Achilles's tendon. He is out for at least six months, probably until the end of the year.
Pageau is about to enter his prime, a period during which he will be expected to score 20-25 goals per year for some 50-65 points total, then enter a plateau that will see him score 15-20 goals and 45-50 points for a few years before regressing. To waste a year of such importance is terrible news for both the athlete and the team.
The Sens are doing ok this year, with four players nearing or besting the point-per-game mark, with one Québec-born defenseman (Thomas Chabot) leading the league in points at his position and another (Maxime Lajoie) doing the same for rookie defensemen. In the absence of a reliable backup, 37-year-old Craig Anderson is holding the fort, alternating brilliant outings with ones where he looks exhausted, as can be expected. Head coach Guy Boucher is making the best of a roster that was predicted to finish last in the league, showing why he is one of the better tacticians in the NHL.
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