With the start of training camp now just two days away, the excitement over the start of a new season is growing.
The World Cup, which has been surprisingly entertaining, has created a temporary distraction but it seems like most fans around here are ready for the real thing.
So with the start of Camp about 48 hours away and the first on-ice session not long after that, here are ten things to keep an eye on through Camp and the preseason.
Erik Karlsson’s Absence– The Senators will be missing their best player and their Captain for the first few days of Camp and longer depending on how Sweden does at the World Cup. Missing camp shouldn’t be a big deal for EK65 as he will have played 6-10 games had a high pace but it is an opportunity for another defenceman to step up.
The Top Six– We already heard that the Senators will start with a top six of Hoffman-Turris-Stone and MacArthur-Brassard-Ryan. Will be interesting to see if that sticks. Camp and preseason are a good opportunity for the staff to try out different combinations. We’ll find out quickly if Boucher has some other combinations he’s considering up there whether it’s juggling those six guys or adding a player previously pegged for the bottom six.
Power Play Combinations– When a Coach has had months to think about line combinations, you know that the first combos he uses are the ones he’s hoping will stick. Keep an eye on the power play groups early in Camp as they’ll probably give you a pretty good indication of how the team will line up when the games start for real in October. They’ll likely have a placeholder of sorts in the place of Karlsson, most likely Chris Wideman. We know he wants to use Derick Brassard on the half-wall but who are the other two forwards? And is it a Hoffman-Karlsson duo up top or do they go with two defenceman?
Coaches’ Responsibilities– The whole Associate Coach thing is new for Ottawa so it will be interesting to see how Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford divide the workload. From what we’ve heard Boucher will work with the forwards and the power play while Crawford focuses more on the defence.
The Pace– Guy Boucher and his staff have been in the office most days for the last month or so, preparing for the new season. Boucher is a details-guy so you know he’ll have a clear plan for training camp. Expecting a much higher pace and intensity than we’ve seen in previous years.
Goaltending– There’s almost zero talk about the goaltending situation heading into a new season and that’s because the Senators seem to have a pretty clear number one and number two guy. Craig Anderson is expected to get the bulk of the starts with Andrew Hammond as his back up. But there’s a fierce battle underway for the third spot on the depth chart/starting job in Binghamton. Chris Driedger got off to a good start in the rookie camp. We’ll see how Matt O’Connor responds in the main camp.
Puempel’s Role– Safe to say this is a make or break Camp and preseason for Matt Puempel. Dorion has made it clear that no roster spot is guaranteed regardless of contract status. It was a comment aimed directly at Puempel. But does he get top six opportunities in preseason or is he expected to make an impact on the third and fourth line? Can Puempel do enough in a bottom six role to stick around or does he pass through waivers and start the season in Bingo?
Lazar’s Line– Similar to Puempel, Curtis Lazar needs to have a strong camp. Really sounds like he’ll start in that third line right wing position but is that where Guy Boucher sees him to start the year? Lazar has talked a lot about wanting to have a clearly defined role this season. If he’s bouncing around the line up early in Camp and preseason and doesn’t have a regular turn on the penalty kill, is that an indication that maybe he misses out on a spot?
The Veterans- I expect this to be one of the most talked about storylines early in Camp as we’ll learn pretty quickly what the Coaches think of certain veterans. This includes the likes of Chris Kelly, Chris Neil, Tom Pyatt and Mike Blunden. Kelly and Neil are considered automatics to be in the line up on opening night but Boucher has also spoken highly of Pyatt and Blunden on multiple occasions. It’s going to be a challenge for the Senators to find room for everyone, especially if one of the young guys (Dzingel, Paul, Puempel) has a strong Camp.
The Wildcards– Every Training Camp and Preseason has its Brandon Bochenski. A player who comes out of nowhere and makes life difficult for the Coaching staff when it comes time to announce the cuts. Up front there are handful of guys on the bubble- Curtis Lazar, Matt Puempel, Ryan Dzingel, Nick Paul, Tom Pyatt, Mike Blunden. On defence there probably only one opening but a long list of contenders including Thomas Chabot, Mark Borowiecki, Matt Bartkowski, Patrick Sieloff and Freddy Claesson (and maybe Dennis Seidenberg). With an entirely new Coaching Staff in place, everyone will be looking to make a good first impression. Who is able to separate themselves from the pack in the preseason?
So there’s ten things to keep an eye on when Training Camp starts later this week.
Which story-lines are you most interested in? Did I miss any? Also, is storylines one word or two? Is it hyphenated? So much to discuss.
–Interesting bit of news from Team President Cyril Leeder yesterday as for the first time publicly, he expressed that Parliament Hill is the only real option the Ottawa Senators are considering for an outdoor game. And while that continues to be a logistical nightmare, it’s clear that the organization is putting all its effort on making it happen. TD Place seems like a logical back-up plan but according to Leeder, “TD Place is not an option we’ve looked at, at all, in any detail and we’ve been really focused on the Hill.”
