Development camp message: look and learn
The Ottawa Senators prospects arriving at Canadian Tire Centre Tuesday for the club’s development camp don’t have to look far for success stories.
From Cody Ceci to Mark Borowiecki to Mark Stone to Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Senators roster is littered with poster children for what the camp aims to accomplish.
“It’s about understanding how to be a pro,” says assistant general manager Randy Lee. “It’s not just details about nutrition and conditioning and sports psychology. It also gives players a baseline of where they are and where they need to get to.”
The on- and off-ice sessions, which will run until Monday, July 6, feature 35 players, including seven of the club’s eight selections at last weekend’s NHL entry draft.
The highlight will be an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday (5:45 p.m.) at the Kanata Recreational Complex. The game will be open to the public.
Previous development camps have served the Senators well.
High-end draft picks such as Ceci and Curtis Lazar have received a head start on what big-league life is all about.
The development camp has also allowed longshots and long-term projects, including Stone, Pageau and Borowiecki, to showcase their competitive spirit and willingness to work on weaknesses in order to succeed.
Stone, originally drafted 178th in the 2008 entry draft, was a runnerup to Florida’s Aaron Ekblad as NHL rookie of the year and signed a three-year, $10.5-million contract last week.
Pageau, the 96th overall choice in 2011, has thrived despite his size (5-9) and the uncertainty of regularly being shuttled between Ottawa and Binghamton of the AHL.
Borowiecki, taken 139th in 2008, has adopted a smart, simple defensive game to go along with his physical edge.
“So many guys work at the things they’re good at, but you’ve also got to work at the things you’re not good at,” says Lee.
“(Prospects) may have to come to a point where they reassess where they’re at to be an NHL player. Can a guy adjust his skill set to play regularly at the NHL level? A guy might be a 30-40 goal scorer in the AHL, but can he re-define, re-shape himself to play regularly in the NHL?”
Carleton Ravens basketball coach Dave Smart will be among the guest speakers.
“He’ll talk about the attributes he sees in the players that make his team perennial winners,” says Lee.
An additional benefit is that younger players can learn from camp veterans, who can relay the experience of what it’s like to progress from level to level as they climb the hockey ladder.
When the camp concludes, Senators management will analyze the development of every prospect.
“We sit down and project: Where do we think this player is and that player is? Some guys accelerate faster, some guys have to take a step back. It’s like wine … what’s the best maturity date for when they’re ready to play?”