Jorian Donovan deserves the distinction of being the first player recalled to Ottawa during the 2026-27 season.
Senators management called up the 22-year-old left-handed defenseman on Monday morning, just hours before the second game of the regular season against the Boston Bruins.
Donovan dealt with an unspecified injury last month during the Senators’ training camp. After being cut from the roster, he was able to return to competition with the Belleville Senators. This weekend, he played in the first two games of the season, which were held at the arena recently renamed CIBC Place.
Although he didn’t record any points, Donovan had four shots on goal. The B-Sens were defeated 5-2 by the Hamilton Hammers in the season opener on Friday. They bounced back in fine form with a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans on Sunday.
Donovan made his NHL debut last spring. Called up to Ottawa for the very first time in late March, he logged about 20 minutes of ice time over two games in which the Senators earned three points out of a possible four.
A fifth-round pick (136th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Donovan is entering his third professional season. Last year, he set new career highs in the American Hockey League in goals (four), assists (17), points (21), and penalty minutes (89).
