Ottawa Senators head coach DJ Smith said he was disappointed not to be able to count on the services of goaltender Cam Talbot early in the season.

On Monday, the Ottawa organization said the 35-year-old veteran would be out of action for several weeks due to an upper-body injury. According to Sportsnet, it would be a broken rib.

“It’s sad. At first, I had the impression that he would be gone for a few days. Knowing that he will be out for so long makes us sad,” Smith said on Tuesday a few hours before a preseason match against the Canadiens in Montréal.

However, the “Sens” rider would not be surprised to see Talbot back on the icy surface ahead of the announced date.

“I’ve been told it will be between five and seven weeks away. However, I can tell you that Talbot wants to play! This is bad news for him. We will not put him in a dangerous situation for his health, but there is a possibility that he will come back sooner than expected,” he said.

In the meantime, it’s Anton Forsberg who has to take on the duties of goaltender number 1 for the Senators.

“He [Forsberg] has already shown us that he’s a good goalkeeper and we all have faith in him,” said striker Josh Norris. I know he believes in his abilities. We’re not bitching between posts.

Additionally, the Ottawa organization called on Seattle Kraken goaltender Magnus Hellberg via waiver on Monday. He only has five games of National League experience.