Soft-spoken Dadanov carries big stick
Dadonov `came as advertised, he is as good as we thought he was,' says Smith
Evgenii Dadonov comes from the speak softly and carry a big stick school.
He's anything but an open book in talking about himself or the impact he could have on the Ottawa Senators.
The story coming from coach D.J. Smith, however, is that Dadonov — the former Florida Panthers winger who signed a three-year, US$15-million deal as a free agent with the Senators in October — is a ”maintenance-free player” who “goes about his business like a good NHL player and a good pro.”
Apparently, he's open to helping a team wherever they see fit. There he was on a Zoom call before the Senators intrasquad scrimmage Friday, playing the role of translator for fellow Russian Artyom Zub, who is on the bubble in attempting to earn a job on the Senators defence.
Make no mistake about this, though: Dadonov, 31, is being counted on to play a vital role in sparking more offence, including reviving a power play that ranked 31st — dead last — in the NHL last season.
“I just decided that it was going to be a good opportunity for me and I really believe in this team,” Dadonov said of leaving the Florida sun for the Ottawa winter.
“This team has talent. It's going to be a good team. The coach makes the decisions on the lines, so I don't worry about it. The camp is pretty normal, as usual. It's hard work. A lot of skating, so everything is just like normal.”
Dadonov and left-winger Brady Tkachuk have been together since camp opened and Smith says they'll begin the regular season on the same unit. The big question — perhaps the biggest question of all in training camp — is which centre will receive the plum assignment of playing centre between the two.
Colin White was there Friday, but Logan Brown, Josh Norris and Derek Stepan, who is expected to join the team out of COVID-19 quarantine Sunday, are all in the running for the spot.
It's difficult to know who could have the inside track. As part of COVID-19 precautions, the media isn't allowed to attend the workouts to see who is doing what in camp.
“There are always moving pieces and people will play with different players, but going into camp, certainly Dadonov and Tkachuk is what I had in mind,” said Smith. “Those two will certainly start together and we'll see if there is some chemistry.”
Dadonov's numbers have been impressive, including three consecutive 25-plus goal seasons. He scored 25 goals and 22 assists in 69 games in 2019-20.
As for the impact he could have with the man advantage, consider the following.
On the offensively loaded Panthers team in 2019-20, Dadonov scored 11 goals and had 17 points on the power play. A year earlier, he produced eight goals and 17 points with the man advantage. In 2017-18, he counted 14 goals and 30 points with the Panthers in extra man situations.
As a team, the Senators scored only 30 power-play goals last season, a woeful success rate of 14.2 per cent. Anthony Duclair, Tyler Ennis and Artem Anisimov were the goal leaders, with five each. Defenceman Thomas Chabot was the power-play points leader, with 11, followed by Ennis at 10 and Jean-Gabriel Pageau at nine.
“Already, he has helped our power play tremendously,” said Smith.
“It's just his patience, always being available. It was something we needed, to have some poise on the power play. He came as advertised, he is as good as we thought he was.”
The real proof will come beginning with the regular season opening back-to-backs against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 15 and 16.
The desperate need to improve the power play is also a factor for several young prospects blessed with a power-play presence and in a battle to make the team. That group includes Logan Brown and defenceman Christian Wolanin, who missed most of last season following shoulder surgery.
“I think on the power play and with the puck on my stick is something everyone knows is my strong suit,” Wolanin said in a Zoom call Friday. “The key word is opportunity. Nothing is given in this league. Everything has got to be earned and I know I have to earn my opportunity.
“I'm confident in myself that when I do get the opportunity to run the power play, I can contribute. You can see how big special teams are in hockey these days.”
I just decided that it was going to be a good opportunity for me and I really believe in this team. This team has talent.