GM HAPPY WITH PROGRESS SHOWN BY YOUNG SENATORS
Dorion now eager to sign Duchene to a long-term contract extension
What has impressed us most is the work ethic, whether it’s in practice or in games. The work ethic is off the charts.
As the banged-up Ottawa Senators try to skate around their lengthy injury list, Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion is excited by what he has seen in the first four weeks of the season.
There have been ugly nights, to be sure, where the young squad has been overwhelmed.
At the same time, though, there have been promising signs — some baby steps, along with some surprising leaps — that do suggest brighter days lie ahead.
After goaltender Craig Anderson stole the Senators a point by making 49 saves in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Senators hit the 10-game mark with a 4-4-2 record — a better mark than might have been originally expected for the rebuilding squad.
A win against the Arizona Coyotes here Tuesday would allow the Senators to finish the three-game road trip with a .500 record and to return home with a winning record for the season.
“So far, we’re happy in the direction we’re going in,” Dorion said Monday.
“When you start a rebuild, it’s going to be process. There are going to be some tougher games, or more difficult games, and there are going to be some good moments. You evolve as a team and you see progress and that’s what we’re happy about.” They’ve been entertaining. Scoring goals is not a problem. The Senators have scored at least three goals in nine of their 10 contests and rank sixth in the NHL in goals per game. The power play also has been solid, ranking ninth overall in the NHL.
Thomas Chabot, the 21-yearold defenceman whose confidence is clearly growing, has three goals and 10 assists, only one point of shy of Toronto’s Morgan Rielly and Washington’s John Carlson for the league lead among defencemen.
Defensively, though, the 39 goals allowed are tied for the second-worst in the NHL, and that’s with Anderson being sharp on most nights. He has faced an average of 38.7 shots per game, including 53 on Sunday — a franchise record for the Golden Knights.
As expected, opponents have exploited the Senators woefully inexperienced blue line and coach Guy Boucher has tried to put Band-Aids over the leaks by using seven defencemen as often as possible.
For all that, the Senators have shown an ability to bounce back after rough periods and awful games.
“What has impressed us most is the work ethic, whether it’s in practice or in games,” Dorion said. “The work ethic is off the charts. The commitment to playing the right way is also there. And when we’re talking about work ethic, we’re also seeing a total buy-in from the group.”
Injuries have hit the heart of the lineup. The absence of centres Zack Smith (he had surgery Sunday to repair three fractures to the zygomatic bone in his face) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (Achilles tear on the opening day of training camp) has created a deep hole in the middle, forcing endless shuffling of the forward lines.
At least rookie winger Brady Tkachuk has taken a step toward returning. He skated Monday for the first time since suffering a torn ligament in his leg Oct. 15.
While much of the positive talk around the Senators is about the growth of their young players, Dorion continues to work toward signing Matt Duchene to a long-term extension. Keeping Duchene is a necessity, considering how much the Senators gave up to acquire him in last November’s trade that sent Kyle Turris to Nashville and a slew of draft picks and prospects to Colorado.
“We’re just going to let things stand still (publicly),” Dorion said of negotiations.
“Hopefully, our next discussion on Matt Duchene is when we can hopefully announce a contract.”
After a slow start, Duchene is now on a roll, with four goals and five assists in his past six games.
The Senators are also facing crunch time on the question of whether to keep 19-year-old Alex Formenton or to return him to London of the OHL.
Formenton has played seven games. If he plays fewer than 10 games, his three-year entry level contract will slide to next year.
He played only 9:46 on Sunday and has yet to register a point.
“With younger players, you want to make sure he’s able to contribute, but at the same time, you want to see their progression and make sure you do the right thing for them, whether it’s in the short, medium or long term.”
At this point, anyway, it would seem make more sense for Formenton to return to junior, where he can rediscover his scoring touch.