DON’T WRITE OFF SENS THIS SEASON, SAYS DUCHENE
Matt Duchene would prefer to look forward and not back.
The Ottawa Senators’ top centre, like many others, is getting ready to turn the page on last year’s 30th-place finish as players prepare to report to training camp Sept. 13 at Canadian Tire Centre.
While the 27-year-old Duchene, acquired in a blockbuster three-way trade with the Colorado Avalanche last November that sent Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators, is headed into the final year of his contract. That’s the least of his worries as he gets ready for a new season.
Duchene is one of three players — including captain Erik Karlsson and winger Mark Stone — who are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2019.
“I’m just concerned about having a good start to the season and I haven’t really thought about it to be honest,” Duchene said following a skate Tuesday at Bell Sensplex. “I’m just excited to be back with the guys. We have a really good group and I think we can have a good start to the season here.
“A lot of people are writing us off, but I don’t see it that way. I think we have a lot of talent and a lot of guys that are willing to work together and have fun doing it.”
Duchene maintained he can’t worry about getting a new contract in place because there’s a lot of work to do to get this club back to respectability after its low placing last season.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” said Duchene, who kept his home in Colorado and spent part of the off-season getting ready for camp by working out in Vail.
General manager Pierre Dorion and Duchene had several talks during the off-season about where the organization is headed.
“I spoke to Pierre throughout the summer about things. He’s an awesome guy and he’s doing a good job and working hard,” Duchene said. “It’s been enjoyable to chat with him about stuff.
“I’ve got a year on my deal and I honestly don’t worry about it right now. I’ve had a good summer. I feel good and I’m ready for opening night now. I can’t wait to get going.”
That being said, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing with the Senators long term if the two sides can get a contract worked out and left the door wide open to signing a new deal.
“I’d love for it to work,” Duchene said. “It’s my home province, it’s a Canadian city, three hours from home for me and it’d be awesome if things could work out for sure.”
There hasn’t been any shortage of news since last season ended and many wonder about the state of the dressing room after this newspaper reported Melinda Karlsson, the wife of the club’s captain, filed for a peace bond in Ontario court against Mike Hoffman’s fiancée Monika Caryk.
Though Caryk has steadfastly denied charges she cyberbullied the Karlsson family online, Hoffman was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in June before being sent to the Florida Panthers. Duchene said everybody has to move on.
“We’ve just got to forget about it,” Duchene said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over. We have to learn from it obviously. We’ll have a better culture in the locker-room this year and it starts with the older guys leading the way.
“We’re going to have a little bit younger team. Adding youth and exuberance to our team is going to be fun.”
Duchene said he doesn’t believe what was happening in the room had that big an effect on the club’s on-ice performance.
“Honestly, probably not as much as you would think,” he said. “Last year got away from us for a lot of reasons and ... (they are) looking to right the ship.”
The reality is, according to Duchene, the Senators should be focused on getting this team back to competing for a playoff spot and he believes they may be able surprise some people.
“We’ve got a lot of speed, a lot of talent and I think people are overlooking a lot of it. I think some of that talent is going to come from our young guys and I think we’re going to have a chip on our shoulder,” said Duchene. “I’ve played on some teams where you have a tough year the year before and guys come in hungry and I see that from our guys right now.”
Duchene added later: “We should have a chip on our shoulder after last year. We’re a lot better hockey team than we showed and we can be a lot better hockey team than people are giving us credit for.”