BOROWIECKI DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP
Hard-nosed defenceman would be solid pick for captain if Senators do name one
Who is the best bet to have a captain’s role with the Senators this season?
Answering that question today, you’d have to say the selfproclaimed “meathead” will be wearing a letter.
It will probably be an “A” rather than the “C” — which will likely go to Mark Stone or Matt Duchene. Perhaps whichever signs a contract extension first. Maybe it will even be used as an incentive.
Why else would it be the general manager’s call?
“Pierre (Dorion) decided he wants to wait, and that’s it,” coach Guy Boucher said Monday. “It’s an organization decision not to have one right now. Wait and see. When Pierre feels it’s the right moment, then we’ll make the right decision.”
But if both Stone and Duchene reject their respective contract offers, they have to be traded by the deadline. In which case, the captaincy will likely fall to one of the 11 skaters presently under contract in 2019-20.
The most qualified of that bunch is Mark Borowiecki, who would be a good choice even if Stone and Duchene were hanging around.
“It’s clear,” Boucher said when spelling out Borowiecki’s leadership qualities. “You ask any player and they’ll tell you. He’s one of those heart-and-soul guys that will go through the wall for anybody. There’s no B.S. That’s what it is, and he’ll state it. He’d be the first guy to defend guys, but it’s way more than that. It’s outside, and what’s right and what’s wrong, and there’s no two ways about it.”
Precisely the type of individual the Senators need to run a room that was previously a mess.
“He’s outstanding for our culture, for sure,” Boucher said. “All the players recognize it. He’s more important than ever right now. For sure.”
Alexei Yashin was the Senators’ captain because he was their best player, not because he was the most qualified to wear the “C.”
Borowiecki isn’t the team’s top defencemen — not long ago, the analytics crowd much preferred Patrick Wiercioch who, at 28, landed in Russia last season because no NHL team wanted him — but he was one of those singled out by Boucher after Monday’s gruelling practice when mentioning the Senators’ biggest hurdle this season will be how well the young players can defend.
“I’m not worried what we’re going to be doing with the puck, with our defencemen,” Boucher said. “But you could see it this morning ... Borowiecki and (Cody) Ceci and (Dylan) DeMelo were defending. You could see they’re vets. The other ones, they need the reps big time. That’s where it’s at. That’s where I would say we’ve got to grow fast.”
Borowiecki has already worn an “A” in the pre-season, just as he did last year in training camp and the year before for a couple of regular season games. He cherishes and thrives on the responsibility.
“It’s always special for me,” said the 29-year-old Ottawa native, who was drafted by the organization a full decade ago and is about to start his fifth campaign as a regular with the big club. “Just pulling on that jersey is special for me. But to kind of be shown that my efforts in the dressing room here are appreciated, I’m always grateful for that opportunity. I take a lot of pride in trying to be a good guy around here. Good guy in the room, and do my best to kind of help out young guys, regardless of the situation. I think they hopefully appreciate that, and I know it means a lot to me, to have a chance to have that role.”
Borowiecki has been a captain at various levels, including his last season (2010-11) at Clarkson University.
“It’s just something I’m really grateful for, and take a lot of pride in,” he said. “It’s kind of what I want my legacy to be when I’m done hockey ... recognized by peers and my coworkers and my teammates here, to be not just about on-ice play. I’ll try to go out of my way to help a guy as much as I can here.
“It’s always nice to be recognized. I’m definitely grateful.”
Twelve months ago the Senators had four veteran blue-liners who are no longer with the organization: Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, Johnny Oduya and Fredrik Claesson. That’s a loss of 2,571 games of NHL experience.
Their blue-line is relatively raw. The depth chart has Thomas Chabot and Cody Ceci as the first pairing, and Borowiecki and Chris Wideman as the third. DeMelo will be the right side guy on the second pairing, while his partner is likely to be Christian Wolanin or Ben Harpur, with Christian Jaros and Max Lajoie also pushing for jobs but likely to start the season in Belleville.
“He’s awesome. I love him,” Borowiecki said of Wideman, his teammate since 2012-13 in Binghamton. “I’ve had a chance to kind of grow up as a pro, with him sort of by my side. We played a ton together in the American League. The guy’s got so much skill. I think a lot untapped.
“Obviously, given the personnel we had here, Erik was such a special player. It’s tough when you’re a right shot, sort of offensive-minded defenceman. But Wides is going to have an opportunity to step up here. I think you’ll see him use that shot. He’s such a heads-up player in the O -zone. He’s a guy I really respect. I’ve had a chance to kind of watch him develop, and I just really enjoy playing with him.
“I think we kind of get each other. We’re on the same wavelength.”
With two different styles, they also complement each other.
“I get to be the meathead out there, running around, and he does all the fun work with the puck,” Borowiecki said. “It’s cool. I think that’s kind of why we gel well together. I think hopefully we have a chance to kind of increase our role, in what we can bring to this team this year. I think we’re going to really try to rise to the challenge here.”
With a leader like Borowiecki, others will be pressed to do the same.
TORNADO RELIEF
A reporter wanted to know how Borowiecki and his family made it through Friday’s tornado.
“All good. Thank you for asking,” Borowiecki said.
“My parents and my in-laws are in the Bridlewood-Emerald Meadows area, so they’re all right. We’re kind of out towards Almonte, my wife and I, and yeah, we definitely got a bad storm. But we were pretty fortunate and blessed to not have to go through what some of those people went through in Gatineau and Dunrobin.
“The dogs were a little freaked out. Patio umbrella launched across the yard. But all said and done, I’ll take that.”
The Senators Foundation has started a GoFundMe campaign for victims of the tornado, in which it will match contributions made by the public. As of Monday afternoon, that number was at $61,000.
Borowiecki is not surprised by the outpouring of support in his hometown.
“Obviously, growing up here, it’s always sad to see when something like that happens to your community,” he said. “But I think the way people are going to rally together here is pretty special.”