Sens receive some potentially upsetting news on veteran forward Derek Stepan

The Ottawa Senators will be without the services of offseason acquisition Derek Stepan for the foreseeable future after a puck battle with Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Tuesday, which left him laboring and cradling what looked to be his left arm as he slowly made his way to the Ottawa bench.

The Sens have not provided an official update on Stepan as of this time, however, TSN's Shawn Simpson has heard rumblings of a possible shoulder dislocation.

If this is indeed the case, and if surgery is required, Stepan could miss the next four-to-six months as a result of the injury.

As one of the respected veterans in the room, Stepan would be greatly missed if this is the case, not only for his experience and leadership but also for his ability to help the younger players navigate their way through the rigors of playing in the best league in the world and providing them with the opportunity to pick up on some of his good habits - the same ones that have helped the 30-year-old carve out a successful NHL career over the past 11 seasons.

Stepan has been limited to just 6 points through 20 games with the Sens this season, though he looked like he was really starting to build some chemistry with his new teammates. Poor timing here.

Update: Since this story was published, the Sens placed Derek Stepan on injured reserve.

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