MacArthur aiming to return to Sens lineup this season Despite the fact that doctors failed to clear him to play in January, veteran forward Clarke MacArthur remains determined to make a return to the Senators lineup this season.

Clarke MacArthur wanted to deliver a clear message Monday morning when he was asked about how he was feeling.

“I feel great,” he said.

And then MacArthur leaned in closer to the half-dozen microphones in front of him and repeated, “Anybody listening out there, I feel great.”

It seemed to be a foregone conclusion that MacArthur’s season was over when doctors failed to medically clear him to play back in January; however on Thursday night, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported that MacArthur was still holding out hope to play this season. On Monday morning, MacArthur confirmed Dreger’s report by publicly declaring that he is targeting a return to the Senators lineup in the next couple of weeks.

“I’m always holding out for this year. I could care less about next year,” MacArthur said. “I’m only training like this and doing what I’m doing now for this year. Next year is next year. I’m going to do anything I can to get back in and if they clear me, I’ll be ready.”

MacArthur has battled a number of concussions and has not appeared in an NHL game since October 14, 2015 – a span of almost 18 months. He was on track to return to the club in training camp for the 2016-17 season; but he suffered another concussion after a devastating hit from teammate Patrick Seiloff during a practice.

Despite the extended layoff, MacArthur believes he can help the Senators in the stretch drive. He has been practicing with the team and plans on joining them at some point during an upcoming four-game road trip.

“I think it would be important to get some regular season games in. Obviously, it would be tougher to go in right in the playoffs – but I would do it,” he said. “I would love to get a couple of games in at the end. That’ll be enough to get the systems down full speed and know what I’m doing.”

The next stage in the process is for MacArthur to undergo a baseline test with doctors – the same process which halted his season back in January. There is no timetable for when the baseline test will take place, but if MacArthur wants to resume playing in the regular season, then it would have to occur in the next few days.

“They’ll probably just tell me five hours beforehand so I don’t have a sleepless night or get worried about it,” MacArthur joked. “I told them I want to do it by the end of the year. I want to know something by the end of the year and I think that’s fair for them and for myself.”

While MacArthur is optimistic about his return, Sens’ general manager Pierre Dorion was much more conservative when asked about the possibility of the veteran winger returning this season.

“There’s been some talk that we may have him do the baseline. As far as him playing again, it’s always on the doctors, it’s not up to us,” Dorion told reporters on Monday. “The doctors will decide if he can play or not. But to put him in a game situation or a playoff situation when you’ve played four games in two years might not be the smartest thing.”

Head coach Guy Boucher echoed the sentiments of his general manager, saying he’s not even remotely thinking about what his lineup could look like if MacArthur returns in the next two weeks.

“Until the doctors tell me there’s a possibility, then I’ll think about it,” Boucher said. “We’re happy he’s there, we’re happy he’s feeling great, but as long as he’s not part of my decisions I’m not putting any focus on it right now.”

MacArthur believes that just by pushing his own limits, he may be in a position to help motivate his teammates down the stretch.

“I want to be available and put some pressure on everybody to keep their spots. That’s what you want to do as a teammate,” he explained. “That’s what I’m trying to do now – get to the highest I can get to and be ready to go.

The 31-year-old was asked if he has any hesitation about returning, given his history of concussions over the past two years.

“In my mind, I’ve taken some unfortunate hits. Just bad timing on different things,” added MacArthur. “I don’t feel like I’m a player who plays with his head down. It’s been a little bit of bad luck.”