Steve Staios is confident in this edition of the Ottawa Senators.
The club’s president of hockey operations and general manager is hopeful after the Senators made the playoffs for the first time in eight years this past spring that the organization can take another step in the right direction this season.
Speaking on the eve of the club’s opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road on Thursday, Staios told reporters before the club practised at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday that this group is motivated to improve.
Coach Travis Green is headed into his second season behind the bench with the Senators and helped lead the club to the playoffs before it was eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1.
“We want to push for the ultimate success with our group,” Staios said. “How that works and the timing of it, I don’t know. The approach we took last year was important for this group.
“We had a win-the-day approach and mentality that Travis and the coaching staff preached to our group. What that did was help them through when things weren’t going our way, to not say, ‘Here we go again,’ and all those bad things that happened to some of those players in their time in Ottawa.
“It kept us in the moment. I want to believe that’ll help us with expectations now. So it’s on the other side of it. I believe there is great potential with this group.”
Potential finally met production by making the playoffs last spring.
The Senators didn’t make many changes in the off-season. Veteran centre Lars Eller was acquired in unrestricted free agency, the club dealt for a tough-guy in Kurtis MacDermid last week and previously had acquired defenceman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings.
But Staios believes he has put his stamp on this team since he took over the GM duties on Nov. 1, 2023. He traded for forwards Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund at last year’s trade deadline, plus added veteran winger David Perron last summer.
“I did make some changes, not many, but I’ve heard that narrative a lot, but to look back on it honestly, now we only have eight remaining players from that roster,” Staios said. “It’s been a slow build with this group, in and around the core.
“There is room for our players to get better and not just our core players, but also our returning players. The change has come at different times. I’m not a big fan of forcing anything onto this group. It’s a long-winded answer to your question, but I do think that there’s been a lot of growth with this group, both internally and through acquisition.”
The key to growth is the core. This team is built around captain Brady Tkachuk, centre Tim Stutzle, alternate captain Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, forward Ridly Greig, winger Drake Batherson, and centre Shane Pinto. If they improve, this team will be better.
However, Staios has done his part to enhance the group around these players to provide them with better support. The decision to acquire MacDermid last Friday wasn’t a reaction to the exhibition-game fights against the Habs, Staios had been looking for toughness all summer.
The club did try to sign Tanner Jeannot in free agency before the Boston Bruins gave him a five-year deal. MacDermid played for Green with the Devils.
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“Everybody would point to certain incidents that may have happened, but I’d been in the market for a player like this for a while,” Staios said. “It just so happened that I was able to make a trade to acquire (MacDermid).
“He’s a guy who brings that element to the game and also confidence to our group. I’ve never questioned the courage of our group or our team’s toughness. It’s wrong to do that. We’re a tough team. I think we’re a hard team to play against. Are they learning in that regard? That’s a growth phase for our group as well, to be able to manage those situations.”
Of all the decisions made, the one involving 2024 first-round pick Carter Yakemchuk was under the microscope when he was sent to the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville on Monday.
“Carter, specifically to his play and his commitment, he’s taken a big step forward. We’re very pleased with, certainly, his off ice conditioning and strength as a young player, took a big step in the right direction, and his game is really starting to round into form now,” Staios said.
“The circumstances we have some depth on defence, and if that were different, could he come up and play? Yes, I do believe that you always have to be mindful of these young players, these high-end, talented players.
“What is the right timing? Carter will tell us, and we feel comfortable about him being in Belleville and in that environment to continue to grow his game.”