YOUTH MOVEMENT AT CORE OF REBUILDING
Melnyk predicts ‘watershed year’ as Sens preach hard work and character
The Ottawa Senators will have a new look this season.
And, now, all eyes will be on the future of Senators captain Erik Karlsson.
Speaking with defenceman Mark Borowiecki in a video on the club’s Twitter feed late Monday and in a letter to fans that appeared in both newspapers Tuesday, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk indicated the organization will undergo a full rebuild. Karlsson wasn’t mentioned, but his future remains in doubt.
But Melnyk made it clear in the video — which is a first in the history of this organization and it came with the hashtag #OttawaRising — that general manager Pierre Dorion and his staff are going with a younger roster which means it’s doubtful Karlsson is going to be kept.
The Senators said in February they were going in a different direction, but this is the first time anybody has used the word rebuild.
“What the fans are looking forward to, and what I’m looking forward to, is a season that’s fresh and brand new with young players coming in,” Melnyk said. “I think we can jell them into a very, very serious team, much better than a lot of people believe.
“Right now, we’re kind of in the Dumpster and everybody says, ‘Ah, they’re not going to do anything.’ I don’t believe that. I think that with character in the dressing room and people working very, very hard, we can accomplish more than a lot of people believe.
“A lot of people said things last year. When I signed up as an owner, I really didn’t expect something like last year. It was a tough, tough year in the offices, on the ice, and now we’re starting off fresh, a lot of things have been changed and I think this year is going to become one of those watershed years for us.”
While Karlsson declined interviews after taking part in an informal skate Tuesday at the Bell Sensplex, he indicated he’d speak when camp officially opens and noted he’s got to be ready for those questions as he left the rink.
None of the players asked to speak after the pre-camp skate chose to stop to talk with the media. Some wanted to wait until before today’s golf tournament at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, while others just simply opted to take a pass.
Many wonder what’s going to happen next because if the Senators are able to get the return they want in exchange for Karlsson, then he’s going to be moved. But they’re not going to give him away either.
The Senators want to get a fresh start. Dorion told reporters in June that “the dressing room was broken” when he dealt Mike Hoffman after Karlsson’s wife, Melinda, alleged the winger’s fiancee, Monika Caryk, cyberbullied her online It’s a charge Caryk has forcefully denied.
The talks to move Karlsson have been more active in recent weeks, and the possibility remains he gets dealt before camp. It’s believed the Senators want forwards Mark Stone and Matt Duchene as part of the solution, but those two will have to decide down the road if they want to be here.
Borowiecki said in the video he believes the dressing room is in good shape.
“We’re pretty excited,” Borowiecki said. “We’ve got some characters in there … there’s a lot of unique personalities, unique people, strong personalities. I think we need to find a way to jell, find some chemistry, be together and we need help with that from outside influences and resources.”
Melnyk noted 10 of the 22 players on the roster this season could be young players, and next year it could be as many as 15. That’s likely good news for Colin White, Logan Brown, Brady Tkachuk, Filip Chlaplik, Christian Wolanin and Christian Jaros, but the numbers used by Melnyk mean more changes.
“It is a cliché kind of term but we take it seriously,” Melnyk said. “I think we’re gonna have 10 players that are new, meaning rookies who played maybe under 10 games last year. The following year it’ll go up to 15, maybe 16. That’s a total turnover, which is exactly what it should be in a rebuild.
“At this point I think we have the base, that’s critical.”
You also have to wonder if youngsters Alex Formeton and Drake Batherson will both have a shot, while some of those highend prospects may be arriving as part of the deal for Karlsson whenever it’s completed.
“I believe the group that we have now believes in the team,” Melnyk said. “It’s not about individuals anymore, because you’re not going to win. One player, two players, three players in the dressing room aren’t going to do it. You get leadership and then you build under that and we’re going to build that with young prospects that are now coming through.
“We’re loaded up with draft picks for the next four, five or six years. Right now, I think it will be very exciting.”
I think we need to find some chemistry, be together and we need help with that from outside influences and resources.