Work hard, play harder.
That was the mantra of Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green as the National Hockey League club wrapped its first day of training camp on Thursday at Bell Sensplex.
Entering his second season behind the Senators’ bench, this camp isn’t about teaching for Green and his staff. Instead, the focus is on making sure the team is firing on all cylinders when the puck is dropped for the first game of the regular season on Oct. 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Most of our guys came to camp in really good shape, and I thought they worked really hard today,” Green said. “I think you have to have a hard camp to be ready to play.
“I don’t think our camp is ridiculously hard. I think it gets you ready for the season, but it’s overplayed on how hard it is.”
Jake Sanderson was the top performer in fitness testing, and we’re pleased to say that everybody who was on the ice made it out of Thursday’s session without serious injury.
The Senators made the playoffs last spring for the first time in eight years, but they aren’t taking anything for granted as they try to pick up where they left off after being eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first round.
This time, they have expectations of not only making the playoffs, but also of being contenders.
“We all kind of went home with that kind of bad taste in our mouth, knowing that we were so close to bringing that to Game 7, and at the same time having a bad start in the first round, going down 3-0, it’s a very steep battle to get back from,” alternate captain Thomas Chabot said.
“That gave us our boost, knowing that this season is not going to get any easier making playoffs, and, once you’re in it, it’s not going to be any easier, either,” Chabot said. “It’s a mindset of our group that’s where we’re at now, and we’re all honest with ourselves, and we know what we had to do this summer, and everybody came prepared.”
The players have to use this camp to get ready for a difficult road ahead, to not only get back to the playoffs, but also to be prepared for what will be a huge challenge to get back and take another step.
The Senators will open the pre-season against the Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday at 3 p.m. That will be the only exhibition game the club plays in Ottawa during camp.
“The expectation is always going to be there, but the media and the fans are going to be the ones that are mostly going to talk about it,” veteran winger Claude Giroux said. “For us, it’s about being the best team we can be every night, and we have to keep getting better.”
Goalie Leevi Merilainen was among the Ottawa Senators players on the ice for the first practice of training camp on Thursday.
INJURIES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
The absence of veteran defenceman Nick Jensen and centre Lars Eller on Day 1 has allowed other players to get a look.
Jensen, recovering from hip surgery in May, has been skating by himself and is making progress, but likely won’t be ready to start the regular season.
Eller, signed as an unrestricted free agent, had abdominal surgery for an ailment he suffered while getting ready for camp, and there is no timetable for his return, either.
Rookie centre Stephen Halliday was with veteran wingers David Perron and Drake Batherson on Thursday. Yes, Dylan Cozens will likely be in that spot on opening night, but it’s interesting to watch.
Halliday was called up a couple of times to skate with Ottawa last season and acquitted himself well during the rookie tournament last weekend in Montreal.
The injury to Jensen meant Nikolas Matinpalo skated with Chabot on defence on Thursday. You could see a scenario where the Senators start the season that way, but Jordan Spence will get an opportunity to play in the top four, too.
Chabot will be ready to play with whoever is on his right side, but he’s pleased that Jensen has made good progress in his recovery.
“He’s a guy who comes every day and just does whatever it takes to be ready for a game,” Chabot said. “When you go through something like that, you’d rather make sure you’re fully ready to come back before pushing it for no reason. I’m confident he knows what he’s doing, and he looks amazing every day at the rink.”
Jensen and Eller were both on the ice before the first group of teammates had their session.
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