Drake Batherson is expected to miss at least two months with a high ankle sprain after taking a controversial hit from Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell during Tuesday night's contest, Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday.
Dell sent the 23-year-old forward crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of the Senators' 5-0 victory. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Dell for three games on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t matter to me what they do to the other team’s player, my guy is out for two months or longer.” @Senators' D.J. Smith talks about how Drake Batherson will be out for at least two months: pic.twitter.com/BVONGd8cRb
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 27, 2022
Smith said that despite the setback, Batherson is in good spirits.
"He's just that kind of kid, and you're going to miss that around the room win, lose, or draw," Smith said to the media Thursday. "His attitude, he's coming around in the league, the way he can make plays. We're going to miss him in all areas."
Batherson leads the Senators with 34 points in 31 games. He was slated to represent Ottawa in the All-Star Game next month before the injury.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will fill his spot on the Atlantic Division squad.
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