Warren’s Piece: Thomas Chabot offers mea culpas to Travis Hamonic

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Ottawa Senators defense attorney Thomas Chabot didn’t give up.

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As much as Travis Hamonic said he didn’t need gifts to join the endless apologies, Chabot says it’s the least he can do because he accidentally hit his fellow defenders in the face with his cane during Saturday’s game in Nashville .

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Frustrated after a second-half penalty from Nashville’s Nino Niederreiter went unpunished, Chabot tried to vent his frustration by smashing the glass near the players’ bench. Instead, his stick hit Hamonic red in the face. Luckily Hamonic was wearing a visor and there was no permanent damage.

“It certainly wasn’t my proudest moment,” Chabot said Monday. “I don’t have to explain myself but that just can’t happen and luckily he’s fine and he wasn’t hurt or anything.”

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AN EARLY GIFT EXCHANGE

As a further gesture, Chabot presented Hamonic with a package of Christmas presents. He did not reveal exactly what the goody bag was all about.

“I got him some stuff and he can tell you what it was if he wants,” Chabot said. “He didn’t want me to get him anything, but I mean, on principle, I had to.”

The incident happened as Chabot was enjoying a solid stretch at both ends of the ice. While he was held back from the scoring charts against Nashville, Chabot had three goals and six assists in his last five games.

NORRIS WATCH

Josh Norris was back on the ice on Monday morning wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, but coach DJ Smith reiterated there is still a long way to go before anyone should be excited about a potential comeback this season.

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There’s a chance Norris can avoid shoulder surgery and return before the end of the season, but serious discussions about the next course of action won’t happen for weeks.

There will be a reassessment with the doctors sometime after Christmas or the New Year.

Smith spent some time chatting with Norris on the ice on Monday morning.

“I just want him to understand that there’s no pressure[forcing him to come back],” Smith said.

THE CHARTIER SHUFFLE

It was an exciting night for Rourke Chartier, who jumped up from the American Hockey League’s Belleville to a center spot — with Tyler Motte and Parker Kelly on his wings — and his first NHL game since a 13-game Test with the San Jose contested Sharks 2018-19.

Chartier, originally drafted in the fifth round (149^th overall) by the Sharks in 2015, had an impressive training camp, recording 14 goals and five assists in 24 games with Belleville.

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“At my current age (26), I’m considered a leader (in the AHL) but I haven’t played many games just because of injuries,” he said. “Each game, you have to pretend that every (NHL) team is watching you play, and that’s going to be the quickest way back up.”

While there was no certainty Chartier would play until Monday morning — Mathieu Joseph is out with an apparent knee injury and Dylan Gambrell had a healthy scrape — his father Marc wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see him in NHL action. He spent Monday flying from the family home in Saskatoon to watch the game live at the Canadian Tire Centre.

“I had him years ago at Ivan Hlinka (tournament) and then again at training camp,” said coach DJ Smith. “He checked really well and he found that scoring touch that he had when he was a junior. We’re looking for something more in this group of last six and I think he deserves a chance.”

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RED LINK

In another example of the small hockey world coming full circle, Chartier has skated extensively in the past with Wade Redden, who was officially inducted into the Senators Ring of Honor with Bryan Murray after a pre-game ceremony.

Chartier spent four seasons in Kelowna, BC, where Redden relocated before retiring, and the two participated in informal summer skates.

“I got to know Wade pretty well, and that was great when you’re 17 and 18,” he said. “Having a man who’s played so many games in the NHL. It was great to have him on the team.”

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