Chabot didn’t have to wait long for return
The plan was never for Thomas Chabot to be back with the Ottawa Senators this quickly.
After sending him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville at the end of training camp, the Senators wanted to give their top pick in the 2015 draft time to develop his defensive game in the minors before bringing him back to the National Hockey League.
Of course, plans can change when injuries occur.
So, when the Senators lost defenceman Ben Harpur in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings after already playing without captain Erik Karlsson and veteran Johnny Oduya, it made sense to bring back Chabot.
Even he never thought he’d be back so soon.
“When they made the first call-up and they called up Ben, I thought I was going to be (in Belleville) longer,” Chabot said Monday. “But I’m happy to be here.”
Senators head coach Guy Boucher said the injuries dictated bringing Chabot back.
“The circumstances have pushed us, and, even with (Christian) Jaros, those guys are going to be NHL players. We love them and it’s just a matter of time,” Boucher said. “We want to groom them well and put them in situations they can handle. The reality is right now it’s way faster.
“We wanted them to get the (work) down there and really start to feel comfortable with the pro game. Chabot is night and day with his attitude compared to last year because you can really feel that he’s on the verge of being a pro.”
Even during his short time in Belleville, Chabot talked to AHL head coach Kurt Kleinendorst and assistant Paul Boutilier about improving his play in his own end because that was where he needed to improve most. Boutilier worked with Chabot last year with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and knows his game well.
“They asked me to work on my small details in my own zone,” Chabot said. “It’s a big thing as a young guy to come into the NHL. I got called up early, but those are things I’m going to keep working on.”
The Senators need Chabot’s offensive skills, too. He was working on the second power play unit, paired on defence with Chris Wideman, during Monday’s practice.