Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios and head coach Travis Green held court with assembled media on Wednesday. Players underwent medical and physical testing. Leaguewide, NHL training camps opened Wednesday.
The Senators’ braintrust were on point responding to a wide array of topics of interest to their fanbase.
Missing Senators players (for now)
As players hit the for the first time Thursday; two will not participate in on-ice drills for the next few days; one remains unsigned; plus the status of another is closer to a conclusion.
Signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Washington Capitals July 1, centre Lars Eller recently underwent a minor procedure on his abdomen. He is a few days away from hitting the ice with his new teammates.
Defenseman Nick Jensen underwent offseason hip surgery. However, there’s good news on the horizon. The team initially expected Jensen to miss the start the season for the Senators. Instead, the soon-to-be 35-year-old will also be a participant in camp in the coming days.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he skates with the group in the next week. He’s progressed nicely. He’s done the testing,” Green said.
Restricted free agent Max Guenette remains unsigned and is not at camp. Meanwhile, on a follow-up to our post this morning, the Senators GM told Hockey HotStove, “There’s nothing to update (at this time).”
Formenton status update
The Senators currently hold the playing rights of Alex Formenton, one of five players found not guilty in the 2018 Canadian World Junior sexual assault trial.
The NHL reinstated Formenton. However, Staios stated the team will cut ties with the 26-year-old. The player recently inked a three-and-a-half month contract with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss League.
“I’ve engaged in discussion with the agent, and I think both sides agree that it would be best for everybody, for a fresh start for Alex,” stated the Senators GM Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. “We would gage the market to see if there’s a trade.”
A contract extension looms for Shane Pinto
Eligible to sign a contract extension, Pinto enters the 2025-26 campaign in his final year of his bridge deal which carries a $3.75 million cap hit. The Senators 32nd overall 2019 Entry Draft selection registered a career high 21 goals, 16 assists in 70 games, while performing a shutdown role at centre, often lining up versus the oppositions top trios.
Meanwhile, Pinto was a key member of the United States gold medal-winning team at the IIHF World Championship, notching two goals, eight assists in only eight games – earning a spot at USA’s Olympic Orientation Camp.
Staios noted, “You know, I think timeline kind of takes on its own. We’ll continue to discuss things and see where it goes. You know, it takes two sides to come to an agreement. There’s good dialog moving forward on Shane and hoping it’s just a matter of time, but I really couldn’t put a time on it.”
Jordan Spence adds blueline depth
The Senators head coach provided an assessment of his fresh addition to the blue line corps.
“I’ve watched him play a little bit in LA, watched game tape before and after. We traded for him. He’s good puck mover. I like that. He’s come from a system that really values being on both sides of the puck, playing on both sides of the puck with LA, and he’s going to help us move the puck,” Green explained.
The coach continued, “He’s a committed player as well. He understands that it’s not just about offense, either. And yet, he can create from the back side as well.”
Can rookie d-man Carter Yakemchuk crack the roster?
If Jensen is indeed healthy to open the season, combined with the Spence add and the emergence of last season’s surprise performance from Nik Matinpalo, Yakemchuk will be in tough to be among the top six d-men during camp.
“We I think for the first time in a long time here, there’s real competition, and Carter continues to grow and develop. And I think you can look at his season last year, there were those a little bit misled by the point totals, but there are certain areas of his game that he started to round out and pay more attention to, and it’s always difficult for that talented of an offensive player at that level, because that’s really what you gravitate to, because you can dominate the game at that level,” Staios commented.
“So we were pleased with this progression. I think, speaking of committed, he has taken a big step off the ice in a bit with his training and strength and conditioning. So we’ll see where it’s at. I mean, there’s always that question about the young player and putting him in the best position to be successful, so we’ll keep that all in mind. But as far as realistic, like Travis said, we would have real competition.”
What’s next for the Senators after making the playoffs?
The Senators broke an eight-year playoff drought last season. As a former long-time NHL player, Green knows playoffs are not a given each season.
“You know, every season is different, but what you do in the offseason doesn’t change a whole lot. You’re always analyzing your team, challenging your players how they’re going to get better, challenging coaching staff, areas that you can improve, I think, but there’s different elements to every team in every season. We’ve got a lot of the same players returning,” he said.
“They have had experiences from last season that will help them this year, but it’s still a new season, and it’s a new challenge. You never just rest that you’ve had a so-called decent season the year before. Our goal isn’t just to make the playoffs. It’s not easy to make the playoffs. It’s not a given. One year you’re just going to do it the next year, we’re going to have to be we’re going to have to move out to be a better team and have improvements in our game.”
What facets can the Senators improve?
The Senators were among the league’s lowest-scoring teams playing at even-strength. The Senators head coach is not only seeking ways to find goals, but to excellerate overall play as well.
“I think there’s still areas that we can get better. There’s buzz about us being better offensively. I think we can produce more goals, chances, five on five. That’s part of it. I think there’s certain parts of our defensive game that still have to improve as well. If you want to win and be a really good team, you don’t just concentrate on being good defensively or offensive. You’re a good 200-foot team,” said Green.
Sens lacked finish, not chance creation
“I thought we had a lot more chances than we scored last year. A lot of guyshooting percentage was probably lower than normal. Our team shooting percentage was low. But I think there are areas that we can get better at, and we’ve really analyzed that part of our game. Like I said, it’s not we didn’t just challenge the players, we challenge the coaches to find areas that we can improve,” Green said.
“I’m not going to get into the details of our system and our structure of how we think we can improve, but I think there are definitely areas that we can get better at the offense, it’s whether it’s off the rush, whether it’s our defense in being part of the rush. There’s a lot that goes into it,
but we’re not going to deviate from being a 200 foot team.”
How does the Senators GM view his roster?
Staios has the utmost belief in his roster making little changes this past offseason. Meanwhile, the Senators GM is excited to see where his club goes.
“The character, the group they showed, I think you can see the evolution of this crew that they showed, that they played for one another, this core group, you know, we talked about internal growth, they all took a step forward. The veterans that we’ve surrounded them with are committed. I like the character of this group.
“They’ve been challenged. They rise up the occasion. They took a step forward next year, and we’re excited to see the next step, they know what’s going to be hard, and that’s we don’t have to remind and I believe, with the work that they put in last year and the character, the group, the leadership, that that’s what I want to see. That’s the belief in it. And so I make the additions that you do strategically in certain areas to create some competition, some depth. We feel good about starting the season with this group and seeing where they’re at.”
