No timetable on injured Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson

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Jake Sanderson was noticeable by his absence Saturday.

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Ten days after leaving the Ottawa Senators’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings, the 21-year-old defenceman wasn’t on the ice for the third straight day for the morning skate, and he wasn’t going to suit up against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre in the evening.

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There is still no timetable for Sanderson’s return from an unspecified lower body ailment. While it’s not considered serious enough to place him on long-term injury reserve, he must resume skating before he can even think of suiting up in another game.

Interim head coach Jacques Martin told reporters before the game against the Leafs that Sanderson was doing off-ice workouts, was making progress and was hopeful he’d resume skating this week.

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“We’re happy with how he’s progressing, but we’ll have better idea (on his return) as the next week develops,” Martin said. “We’re not sure at this time when he’ll be back on the ice, but I would expect that will be sometime this week.”

Losing Sanderson is a big blow for the Senators. He has averaged 22 minutes 58 seconds of ice time per game this season. They were fortunate that defenceman Travis Hamonic was ready to return from a lower-body injury that kept him out for five games.

“We’re just going to need a little bit more from everybody else,” Martin said. “Part of the game is having injuries. We’ve got six defencemen in the lineup, and then we’ve got our forwards helping out.”

NO ROSTER CHANGES

Anton Forsberg’s return to net for the Senators has been put on hold.

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“I think he’s pretty close. He’s just not quite ready yet,” Martin said. “I think we just want to get him in a couple of more practices.”

The Senators opted to dress goaltender Kevin Mandolese as backup to Joonas Korpisalo for the game against the Leafs, opting not to take Forsberg off long-term injury reserve. Martin indicated Forsberg would be ready to suit up Tuesday at home stand against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Forsberg missed his 11th straight game Saturday because of a right groin injury in the Jan. 11 contest against the Buffalo Sabres.

When Forsberg does return, Steve Staios, the Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, will have to make a roster move to create space under the National Hockey League salary cap for the netminder with a $2.75-million U.S. cap hit.

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The Senators currently have $1.2 million in available cap space, and they’ll have more when they send Mandolese ($775,000) back to the American Hockey League Belleville, but that still won’t give them enough to fit Forsberg on the roster.

If the Senators emerged from the game against the Maple Leafs completely healthy, they will either have to put someone on waivers or make a trade to get money off the books.

Staios has been working the phones in advance of the NHL trade deadline on March 8. The belief in league circles is that Ottawa will likely try to move the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko, Dominik Kubalik, Mark Kastelic and Erik Brannstrom, if they can find any takers.

Tarasenko will be the most sought-after among that group. He has a full no-trade clause and can control where he goes, but he could bring back a higher return if the Senators are willing to pick up a portion of his $5-million salary for the rest of this season.

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THIS N’ THAT

After the lengthy break around the NHL all-star game, the Senators were looking forward to getting back to work after many players went to sunny destinations. “Saturday night, Hockey Night In Canada, against the Leafs,” winger Drake Batherson said. “You can’t really ask for much more. Anytime we play them, it’s a good game, no matter what day of the week. But I think being Hockey Night In Canada against the Leafs in our home rink will make it that much more special” … Leafs Nation was abuzz when Toronto GM Brad Treliving was spotted scouting the St. Louis Blues-Buffalo Sabres game on Saturday. The Leafs are trying to add a blueliner … Senators players will likely gather Sunday at defenceman Thomas Chabot’s home to watch the Super Bowl. He usually has the players and their wives over. “I’m rooting for the 49ers,” Batherson said. “I’d like to see them win, but Kansas City with (Patrick) Mahomes, that guy is unreal and anything can happen.” … Former NHL GM Doug MacLean mentioned on Toronto radio Friday with Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne that the Senators have “had discussions” with former St. Louis coach Craig Berube. Martin is expected to finish this season behind the bench after taking over when D.J. Smith was dismissed. MacLean said the talks were about next season.

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THE LAST WORDS

Saturday’s visit by the Leafs was the start of a busy stretch for the Senators, who have 35 games in 66 days until the end of the regular season.

They still have 21 games left on the road schedule, so practice time could be minimal, and there are nine back-to-backs in that stretch, too.

“I think we play almost every second day ’til the end of the year,” Martin said. “So we’ve got to get used to very little practice. Recovery is important, but we have to keep improving, whether through practice or meetings or commitment off the ice, to make sure we’re ready to be at our best.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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