Summer training, Wideman’s future and Montreal

Don’t rip Sens for the Rundblad deal — he was traded to Phoenix for Turris

The desert and a bigger paycheque are calling for Mark Stone this summer. Binghamton standout Chris Wideman steps into the Bell Centre spotlight, Dave Cameron sings Montreal’s praises and a where are they now question in the latest edition of Five Takes.

1. IN PRAISE OF SUMMER SKATING

Mark Stone is humbled by his Calder Trophy nomination, but Senators coach Dave Cameron says Stone has worked hard to get to where he is.

“It’s a tremendous honour,” Stone said before Game 5 here Friday. “Just look at the names on the trophy, like (Alex) Ovechkin and the only guy who ever won it here (Daniel Alfredsson). If you look around the league, there’s a ton of rookies who have had great years. A guy like (Nashville’s Filip) Forsberg, he had a hat trick in the playoffs … and he’s not even on the ballot.”

Forsberg was an early favourite, but while he tailed off in the second half of the season, Stone picked up steam to score 18 goals and 29 assists in the final 46 games of the season. Florida’s Aaron Ekblad and Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau are also in the running for the Calder honour.

Cameron says Stone showed his commitment to improvement by staying in Ottawa last summer, paying special attention to improving his skating.

“As a coach, I feel really good about it, because you always like to see your players get rewarded,” he said. “You don’t put yourself on that list without a lot of hard work.” That work will now pay off with a June 24 trip to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards show.

2. THE SENATORS ROOKIE RACE

Looking back, it’s interesting to note that Mike Hoffman often received more ice time than Stone in the early stages of the season under former coach Paul MacLean. Both also spent time as healthy scratches.

Stone quickly dismisses any suggestions that the two had an internal battle going on for Calder consideration.

“Oh, no, not at all, with me and Hoff,” he said. “Playing together for the last year-and-a-half (in Binghamton in 2013-14 and on a Kid Line with Curtis Lazar at the start of the current season), we know what each other can do. We bring different elements to the game.” As pending restricted free agents, the two are also going to enjoy major pay raises next season.

3. REWARD FOR WIDEMAN

When Binghamton call-up Chris Wideman took to the Bell Centre ice for the Senators morning skate Friday and Erik Karlsson didn’t, there were mild rumblings that perhaps a major news story was breaking. Turns out, Karlsson was simply skipping the workout and the Senators were showing their respect for Wideman’s outstanding AHL year by coming with the team to Montreal for Game 5.

Wideman, who had Karlssonlike numbers with Binghamton — 19 goals and 42 assists — has won the Eddie Shore Award as AHL defenceman of the year.

“I played a game here with Binghamton before, but it was a little brighter this morning,” said Wideman. “It’s extremely intense. I don’t think I’ve ever practised in front of so many (reporters) before."

Wideman, who has played alongside several current Senators, joked about goaltender Andrew Hammond picking up the tab at dinner Thursday.

“I knew Andrew Hammond before he was the Hamburglar,” he said.

Wideman, 5-10 and 175 pounds, believes he’s ready for the NHL — whether that comes with the Senators or somewhere else.

“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. We’ll see what happens.”

4. CAMERON TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF MONTREAL?

The Senators coach ended Friday’s briefing as a cheerleader for the city, describing the Bell Centre environment as “invigorating” rather than “hostile,” talking about his walk to the arena from the club’s hotel. “I was thinking about what a great city this is,” he said. “If (Canadiens owner Geoff ) Mr. Molson could find some way to get the tax rate lower in the province, everybody would want to play here.”

5. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

Hindsight is 20/20, but the top of the NHL playoff scoring list yields a couple of names that were household names in Ottawa. Jakob Silfverberg had two goals and four assists in the Anaheim Ducks’ sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.

And then there’s Vladimir Tarasenko, of the St. Louis Blues, who had five goals and one assist before Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The Senators originally owned the 16th pick in the 2010 NHL draft, but traded it to the Blues, who chose Tarasenko. The Senators return for that trade? Defenceman David Rundblad. Before everyone rips the Senators for that deal, the Senators made a nice recovery by shipping Rundblad and a second-round pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for Kyle Turris. Where would the Senators be now without their No. 1 centre?