PLAYING WELL
Filip Chlapik is catching the eye of the Ottawa Senators.
Filip Chlapik continues to turn heads.
The former Charlottetown Islanders centre is having a good camp with the Ottawa Senators and will not be part of the team’s first cuts on Saturday.
It comes just over a year after a blunt conversation assistant general manager Randy Lee and player development coach Shean Donovan had with the 2015 second-round pick.
Chlapik had gotten by on his skill up onto that point, but the Senators wanted more. They challenged him to get stronger, train harder, be more competitive and protect the puck better.
Chlapik did and had a great final season with the Islanders to earn a three-year entry-level contract in December.
“With this camp, he’s taken it one step further where he’s really caught the eyes of our coaches,’’ Lee said Friday. “He’s one of the guys that’s sort of pushed himself up on the list in terms of getting recognized by the coaches and management.”
Chlapik said he committed to being ready when camp started in September.
“I worked as hard as possible,’’ he said. “I just kept this in my mind all summer and I just hope this will pay off in the start of the season and I can stay with the team for as long as possible.”
The team has not determined where Chlapik will start the season, but with Derick Brassard rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery, it could open another spot with the NHL squad to start the season.
“We tell them don’t worry about where you’re going to play, worry about making the best impression,’’ Lee said.
It’s obvious Chlapik has listened.
“I just want to get better as hockey player and as a person, too,’’ he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s going to be in the NHL or the AHL, I just want to be a better player – to be a real good player in the NHL in the future.”
The Senators host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7 p.m. before playing the New Jersey Devils Monday in Summerside as part of O’Leary’s Hockeyville victory.
While rosters have not been announced for Monday’s contest, Chlapik said he is looking forward to getting back to Prince Edward Island and hopes to be in the lineup.
“It’s going to be nice to see P.E.I. again, see my old billet families and all the friends that come for the game,’’ he said Thursday.
The Island holds special meaning for Chlapik, who arrived in Charlottetown as a 17-year-old with little English.
“The first couple of months were tough for me, but thanks to my teammates for helping me through,’’ he said. “It was an awesome time there . . . (There were) so many nice people in P.E.I. and in the organization.”
Former Islanders defenceman Cody Donaghey is also in the Senators camp. He was scheduled to play in Friday’s exhibition game with the University of Ottawa.
Lee said Donaghey is a wonderful and competitive guy, but noted the team has a lot of defencemen at the NHL and AHL levels.
“He knows his work is cut out for him, but he comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face. He’s a great teammate,’’ Lee said. “We’re just hoping he can push and present himself well.”
The Senators have a couple more Island ties with defenceman Dion Phaneuf having a summer home in the New London area, Summerside native Jim Clark being the team’s chief pro scout and Drake Batherson, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward and son of former P.E.I. Senators Norm Batherson, still in camp.
Lee said being part of the game in Summerside will be fun for the team.
“It’s going to be a wonderful experience and our guys do look forward to it.”