Young Sens turning heads at rookie camp
Typically, the Ottawa Senators’ rookie camp is an exercise in evaluation, a chance for the organization to see how its prospects stack up against peers.
Yet there’s a much bigger buzz this time around.
Thomas Chabot and Colin White, the Senators’ prized 2015 first-round draft picks, could potentially land spots on the roster when the regular season opens on Oct. 5 against Washington.
The first steps toward that goal begin Thursday at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata.
The players will practise again Friday morning, before leaving for a three-team tournament against Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens rookies at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
Postmedia takes a closer look at five players to watch this weekend:
1 Thomas Chabot
Chabot left junior hockey in dominating style.
All he did in 2016-17 was win Canadian Hockey League defenceman of the year honours with St. John of the QMJHL. He amassed 10 goals and 35 points in 34 regular season games and five goals and 18 assists in 18 playoff games — along with claiming the most valuable player award while leading Canada to a silver medal at the world junior tournament.
The question now is whether Chabot, the 18th overall selection in 2015, will immediately receive a shot to play regularly in Ottawa or be asked to adjust to the pro game with Belleville in the AHL.
Senators coach Guy Boucher has shown a reluctance to rely on youth too soon — Chabot played just seven minutes in his only NHL game last October — but he’s a far more accomplished player now.
If captain Erik Karlsson isn’t fully recovered from his foot surgery when the season opens, Chabot could stay around.
2 Colin White In the playoffs, there was only a glimpse (2 minutes, 39 seconds, to be exact) of what the former Boston College star centre could do at the NHL level. Boucher was worried about Pittsburgh exploiting his inexperience in the Eastern Conference Final.
Now, though, the Senators coach has the luxury of watching White, the Senators’ 21st overall selection in 2015, throughout rookie camp and main camp to determine whether he’s ready for full-time NHL duty.
There would appear to be an opening, at least in the short term.
Derick Brassard won’t start the season while he’s recovering from surgery to replace a torn labrum, leaving Kyle Turris, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Nate Thompson as the only veteran NHL centres. Unless, of course, Boucher opts to move Zack Smith back to the middle from left wing.
White has delivered solid scoring numbers in the past — 16 goals and 17 assists in 35 games with Boston College and seven goals and one assist in seven games with the American world junior squad last season — but it’s his edgy, two-way style that could boost his bid to crack the NHL quicker.
3 Christian Jaros
There’s considerable intrigue surrounding the 21-year-old Slovak defenceman, who has played the past two seasons in the Swedish Elite League.
Jaros, 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, was originally considered a longshot when selected 139th overall by the Senators in the 2015 draft, but he’s fast moved up the organizational depth chart.
Jaros is targeted to start the season with Belleville of the AHL, but if he progresses the way management hopes, he could challenge Ben Harpur and Andreas Englund, potentially becoming an injury call-up during the season.
He’s considered a defensive defenceman, but prides himself on an all-around game.
4 Logan Brown
Last September, Brown showed so many positive signs that he was well on target for future NHL success — he scored in a pre-season game against Toronto — living up to his billing as the 11th overall selection in the 2016 draft.
Then came the hand, wrist and shoulder injuries that limited him to only 35 games with Windsor of the OHL (14 goals, 26 assists) and cost him a chance to join White on the U.S. world junior team.
Instead of vaulting ahead, Brown flatlined. In his first season with Windsor in 2015-16, he scored 21 goals and 53 assists in 59 games.
Brown did return for the playoffs, helping Windsor to the Memorial Cup title.
A playmaking centre, the 6-foot6 Brown will most likely return to junior for a third season. Even if he doesn’t make the Senators, a strong showing will serve as a kick-start to what the organization can only hope is a dominating final season of junior, free of serious injuries.
5 Filip Chlapik
While many veteran Senators players have been taking part in informal skates for the past couple of weeks, Chlapik has been one of the few youngsters joining them.
It’s an indication of Chlapik’s growth, a sign that he continues to listen to the messages being sent to him from Senators management.
After being selected 48th overall in the 2015 draft, Chlapik’s chances of earning a contract with the Senators were fast slipping away in June 2016, when assistant general manager Randy Lee spelled out the organization’s disappointment.
Without a commitment to do everything possible to improve, the Senators would kiss him goodbye.
Chlapik responded, scoring 34 goals and 57 assists in 57 regular season games with Charlottetown of the QMJHL. He added another five goals and 14 assists in 13 playoff games.
It’s not easy to go from QMJHL star to AHL star, but Chlapik appears to be willing to put in the time to get there.