NHL: Veteran sniper Dadonov says signing with Senators is ‘a perfect fit’
Evgenii Dadonov sees a bright future in the nation’s capital.
And the veteran winger — immediately the second oldest player on the Ottawa Senators after signing — wanted to be a part of it.
Dadonov inked a three-year, US$15-million deal with the club in free agency last week following three seasons of at least 25 goals with the Florida Panthers.
“I’m really excited to play for this team,” he said on a video conference call with reporters Monday. “It wasn’t a decision just made because of the contract. “I think it’s a perfect fit.” The 31-year-old Russian is looking forward to meshing with a young core that includes winger Brady Tkachuk, defenceman Thomas Chabot and 2020 No. 3 overall pick Tim Stuetzle after speaking with general manager Pierre Dorion and head coach D.J. Smith.
“(They) told me the plan, the strategy of the team,” Dadonov said. “The team’s got a lot of young guns — very good prospects.”
Now also the second-highest paid forward on the Senators, he pointed to Thachuk and Chabot specifically on roster looking to turn the corner after putting up the NHL’s secondworst combined record over the last three seasons.
“They have a chance to be superstars in the league,” Dadonov said. “I hope this team’s going to get some success.”
The native of Chelyabinsk knows a bit about that, at least on a personal level.
He registered back-to-back 28-goal campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19 with Florida following five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, and was on pace to hit 30 for the first time in his career in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to suspend its schedule in March.
“I’ve been working,” said Dadonov, who shoots left and plays on the right side. “I try to be better defensively offensively, faster, stronger.
“I try and prove myself everywhere.”