Senators' GM Pierre Dorion expects MacArthur to be back next season

Ottawa Senators forward Clarke MacArthur was forced to sit out the first six months of the 2016-17 regular season after he suffered yet another concussion during the team's training camp.

The extended rest allowed MacArthur to return for the final four games of the season as well as the Senators' extended postseason, which culminated with an Eastern Conference Final Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. MacArthur scored three goals along the way, including a tally in a Game 4 loss to the Penguins.

With three years at an annual average value of $4.65 million remaining on his contract, the expectation is the four-month offseason rest will be enough to allow the 32-year-old to return for 2017-18, according to Senators' general manager Pierre Dorion.

We hope that Clarke MacArthur comes back; all indications are along the lines that he will be back but if he chooses to go another direction then we'll respect that.

MacArthur returned to his old form during the Senators' 19-game postseason run, scoring key goals and averaging 15:10 of ice time while playing mostly in a top-six role.

He last played most of a season in 2014-15, scoring 16 goals and adding 20 assists in 62 games for the Senators. He hasn't played an 82-game season since the 2010-11 campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.