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Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun will miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury, coach D.J. Smith said Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:

• In 12 games with Ottawa, Chychrun has tallied five points (two goals and three assists).
• The team traded for Chychrun from Arizona in February in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick, a conditional second-round pick in 2024 and a 2026 second-round pick.
• Center Ridly Greig will also miss the remainder of the season with a sternum injury, Smith said.
• The Senators are 35-32-5 this season and sit in fifth place in the wild card standings.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

How does the injury affect the Senators?

The Senators’ playoff hopes are dangling by a thread, and the news of Chychrun’s injury certainly doesn’t help their cause. Chychrun departed Thursday’s game against Tampa in the third period, but the Senators managed to pull out a decisive 7-2 win by scoring four goals in his absence in the final frame. But Chychrun was a crucial addition to Ottawa’s blue line at the trade deadline and his absence will certainly test the depth of the organization. This could open the door to Tyler Kleven making his NHL debut sooner than expected after he signed his entry level contract this week.

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Chychrun has played with a handful of partners since joining the Senators earlier this month, playing a little with Travis Hamonic, Jake Sanderson and even Thomas Chabot last game. For now, it means Nick Holden likely draws into the lineup again and probably will be placed on a pairing with Erik Brannstrom. — Mendes

What about Greig’s injury?

The Senators have always been worried about Greig’s slight frame to handle the rigors of a full NHL season, so this injury probably doesn’t help that fear. Greig has played the majority of the season with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville, but does have 16 games under his belt with Ottawa.

He’s played mostly in a bottom-six role, which is where he likely projects for next season. Once Ottawa has a full complement of healthy centers, Greig slots behind Tim Stützle, Josh Norris and Shane Pinto. Not having him play down the stretch hurts, because this was going to be a terrific opportunity to watch the feisty forward play NHL games with consequences attached to them for Ottawa. — Mendes

Backstory

Chychrun, who turns 25 next week, was drafted No. 16 in the 2016 NHL Draft by Arizona and spent his first six full seasons in the NHL with the Coyotes.

In 36 games with Arizona this season, Chychrun scored seven goals and tallied 21 assists.

Required reading

(Photo: Richard A. Whittaker / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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