Defenceman Chabot eager for a Sens job
Boucher first wants to see him playing offensively and defensively
Thomas Chabot is still with the Senators.
Whether he’s here to start the season Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at home has yet to be finalized, but with one exhibition game left Friday against the Buffalo Sabres at the Canadian Tire Centre, his chances are good.
While the Senators are no longer pursuing unrestricted free agent blueliner Kris Russell and the plan is to keep eight defencemen, coach Guy Boucher indicated the organization would like to see the 19-year-old Chabot one more time in the pre-season before making a decision.
“Camp’s not finished,” Boucher said Thursday. “We’ve got numbers down but camp’s not finished and different things can happen.”
Though Boucher said Tuesday in Saskatoon the Senators will keep 12 forwards and eight defencemen to start the season, that’s not written in stone because those numbers could change depending on injuries. Chabot has been strong offensively, but still needs to prove he can play both ends.
“He still needs to show us defensively that he can be thrown on the ice. We don’t want to be closing our eyes every time he goes on the ice. That’s the thing. He’s a great player, very smart, great speed, he can transition the puck exactly the way you want in the NHL,” said Boucher.
“But he has to be able to be sent on the ice knowing he has the basic skills and the intensity and strength to defend against NHL players. In that respect there has been ups and downs. On the offensive side, with the puck, breakouts and stuff, it’s a no-brainer.
“With him, and you saw it again this morning, I’m pushing him. We’re not treating him like a kid. We don’t want kids. We want players who are ready. So if he’s young, he needs to be ready. Right now, he’s shown us a lot of good stuff and that’s why he’s still here, but camp’s not over.”
There’s a strong chance Chabot will start the year here and not get sent back to the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs just yet. The Senators can keep him for nine games before his contract officially kicks in and they’ll probably go that route because GM Pierre Dorion has liked Chabot’s “poise.”
Dorion said Thursday the Senators are “out” on Russell but didn’t want to get into the specifics of why.
Chabot is taking nothing for granted, but he was skating in the third pairing with Mark Borowiecki on Thursday while Fredrik Claesson and Chris Wideman made up the fourth group.
Captain Erik Karlsson has been impressed with what Chabot has shown.
“He’s playing with a lot of skill,” said Karlsson. “He works hard and, at the same time, I think he sees the ice well.
“He’s definitely able to move the puck and if something goes wrong he’s mature enough to put himself in the right position to back it up. Waiting for clearance: Winger Curtis Lazar skated in a blue non-contact jersey, but he isn’t ready to start playing and nobody is sure when that’s going to happen.
Lazar, who has been sidelined with mononucleosis throughout camp, didn’t get clearance from the doctors Thursday and there isn’t any timetable.
“I feel good. I feel fresh and I can’t wait to get in the lineup whenever that may be,” Lazar said.
Lazar won’t be able to suit up in the club’s final exhibition game but there’s been some belief he may have to go to Ottawa’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton for conditioning to help him get up to speed before suiting up for the Senators.
He hasn’t discussed the situation with anybody and doesn’t sound like he’d be a fan of the idea because he’d rather get up to speed in Ottawa.
“That’s out of my control. My goal is to stay here to play in the NHL,” Lazar said. “Again, if you say I’m going down for a conditioning stint, to try and find my scoring touch or my legs, I’d rather do that at this level. There still would be that adjustment going to the American League.
“In saying that, some guys have had some really strong camps and they’ve earned that opportunity. I guess this is my trial right now. I’m not going to go down without a fight. I have my spot and when I have my opportunity I’m going to make the most of it. I’m not worried about it.” Smitty’s back: Winger Zack Smith, who suffered a deep bone bruise in a game against the Sabres 10 days ago in Buffalo, will play at home Friday. He was skating on a line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tom Pyatt and was doing fine on Thursday.