It’s August. Of all the months, this is usually the one where hockey is the furthest thing from our minds. Training camp is still more than a month away and the excitement of free agency has come and gone.
Yet once again, Senators prospect Curtis Lazar has grabbed the attention of the hockey world.
The World Junior Development camp is well underway in Sherbrooke, Quebec this week and Curtis Lazar has certainly made an impression in his two games. Against the Czechs he scored a goal in a winning cause and was described by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug as “the best player on the ice”. Then last night against Russia, he followed that up with a 4 point night, including three goals, two of which were shorthanded.
In such a short tournament with so little on the line, it’s tough for a player to really get himself noticed. Yet Lazar has done just that, proving that he is among if not the best player eligible to play for Canada’s Junior team this year. But for all the success he has enjoyed in the brief development camp, there’s a very real chance Lazar won’t be there for the World Juniors this season. And that’s because he’ll be here in Ottawa, taking a regular shift in the NHL.
We’ve talked about this a little bit already but Curtis Lazar has a great chance to make this team out of training camp this year. Because the 19 year old is not AHL-eligible, he’ll either start the season here in Ottawa or be sent back to his Junior team in Edmonton. Most people seem to agree that at this point in his career, there isn’t a whole lot left for Lazar to accomplish at the Junior level.
He’s ready for a bigger challenge.
It seems like every time he has stepped on the ice since the Senators called out his name in the 2013 Entry Draft, he has done something special.
At training camp last season, he made it tough for the Senators not to include him on the roster. As a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings and with an A on his jersey, he scored 41 times in the regular season. Then, he was one of Canada’s best forwards at the World Juniors in 2013, picking up seven points in seven games. He then returned to the Oil Kings, leading them to a Memorial Cup win, scoring ten goals along the way including this legendary triple overtime winner. Then last month, he then he came to Ottawa’s Development, was among the best players on the ice and ultimately earned the title of Hardest Working Player.
And now his latest splash, a hat trick performance at the World Junior Development camp.
I honestly don’t know what to expect from Curtis Lazar when training camp kicks off next month but based on what we’ve seen from him over the last year or so, it’s safe to say he’s going to find a way to make an impression.
And it’s going to be fun to watch.
