Brassard could play in season opener next Thursday

Ottawa Senators centre Derick Brassard couldn’t help but laugh when captain Erik Karlsson was the first player to hit him hard Friday.
Brassard, who has been rehabilitating his surgically repaired right shoulder throughout training camp, has taken a major step forward by being cleared to take contact at practice.
The twist is that Karlsson, recovering from his own off-season foot surgery – and not yet cleared to receive hits himself – provided the first test.
“I got hit b