Brown has a chance to stick with Sens … Condon in net in Summerside … Three more players sent to Belleville … Karlsson makes trip to go for a skate
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Logan Brown came to the Ottawa Senators’ training camp with a goal of making the team.
At this point, that’s a realistic possibility.
As the Senators prepare to open the final full week of the pre-season Monday night against the New Jersey Devils at the Credit Union Centre, Brown, 19, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, has positioned himself well to be part of the roster on Opening Night, Oct. 5, against the Washington Capitals. With centre Derick
Brassard recovering from shoulder surgery, injury has brought opportunity for Brown and though he still has eligibility left with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires he isn’t going anywhere because the club wants to see how he performs as the pace ramps up in the final week.
Coming off a three-point night in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre, Brown has opened some eyes.
“I came here and my goal was to push for a spot,” Brown said. “It’s just getting through every day and being one of the hardest workers every day and sticking to the game plan. I feel like I’ve done that so far. I’m here to make the team and I feel like there’s opportunities to make the team so I’m coming here and trying to show I’m ready.”
Let’s face it, Brown is hard to ignore. At 6-foot-6, he’s a big body and showed a willingness to go to the front of the net Saturday when he was there to pick up a Bobby Ryan rebound to beat Al
Montoya with a backhand. Make no mistake, Senators head coach Guy Boucher has been impressed with Brown’s development because he struggled last season with injuries.
“Compared to last year, we know Logan has a high-end NHL mind,” Boucher said Saturday after Ottawa’s win. “We knew that and that’s why he was drafted (high). We’re talking about a real high-end vision and quickness to see what he’s got to do to make plays.
“For a bigger guy to be able to make these plays in a small and confined environment it’s pretty impressive. Last year, he was definitely lacking the pace, the speed and the stamina — which he drastically improved over the span of this year. Now, he’s improved it so much he’s improving every game.”
Brown, the son of former NHLer Jeff Brown, has all the tools.
“His size was always there, his mind was always there, his technical attributes were always there. Right now, it’s about the pace and maintaining it,” Boucher added. “As we move along, I think we’ll see if he can maintain that. He’s going to make it hard for us and that’s good for us.” Starting the game with
Bobby Ryan and Mark Stone was exciting for Brown.
“Last year was a tough year for me with the injuries and I didn’t want them to lose any faith in me or second-guess themselves on the pick,” he said. “I just wanted to come in here and show them my ability and hope to make the team.”
The pace is about to pick up in the competition for spots.
“You better (raise your game) every single day here,” Brown said. ‘You’ve got to get better with the systems and the team play and that’s what I’ve been focusing on every day. This system is a lot to learn especially coming in here and not having any experience. That’s something I’m working on every day.”
THIS N’ THAT
Goaltender Mike Condon, who played 30 minutes in Toronto last Tuesday against the Maple Leafs, will make the start vs. the Devils. The plan is to have Andrew
Hammond play 30 minutes in one of the next two games. If that doesn’t happen against New Jersey then expect to see Hammond on Wednesday vs. the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre. Starter Craig
Anderson, who made 25 saves Saturday, will play the full game next Saturday at the Bell Centre against the Habs to wrap up the pre-season ... Boucher can’t say enough good things about 18-yearold winger Alex Formenton, the club’s second-round pick in the 2017 draft. “He’s what we want — these guys that are fast, relentless and first on the puck,” Boucher said. “He’s battling, crashing the net and taking the body to make plays for the guys. He’s the first back-checker and he blocks shots. That’s being relentless and that’s what we want our team to be. I can’t be more happy than that. I think he was just under the radar and when you look at guys like that they’re just major bonuses that come along. I’m not surprised that he was impressive with that speed, I just didn’t know he was that smart. He’s smart, he’s fast and he’s hungry, this is a lot of great things in one young player.”
THE LAST WORDS
The Senators waived forwards Michael Blunden and Max Reinhart Sunday. They will be sent to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville if they clear waivers at noon Monday. Defenceman
Max Lajoie, who had an impressive camp, was sent to Belleville and though he could return to junior in an overage role, it appears he will kept in the AHL so he’s at arm’s length this season. The club now has 30 players in camp ... Captain Erik
Karlsson, who is recovering from off-season surgery, made the trip but that’s because he likely will skate with the group Monday morning.