Ottawa Senators open camp with an eye towards playoff spot

'We're here to win. This group in particular, at this point in time, I want to see them take that next step.'

Published Sep 18, 2024  •  4 minute read

Steve Staios, the Ottawa Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, left, and head coach Travis Green talk to the media Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Bruce Garrioch /Postmedia

It’s time for playoff payoff in the nation’s capital.

The goal for the Ottawa Senators is simple this season as they prepare to hit the ice Thursday for the first time under the watchful eye of new head coach Travis Green and his staff at the Canadian Tire Centre as training camp shifts into high gear.

After being poked, prodded, physically tested and photographed on the first day of camp Wednesday, the Senators aren’t making any bones about the fact they want to return to the National Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2017.

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Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, was asked if he wants this team to challenge for a playoff spot?

“Absolutely,” he said. “We’re here to win. This group in particular, at this point in time, I want to see them take that next step. The belief and the confidence comes from some of the players that we’ve brought in to support this core group of players.

“But certainly this group has now been through a lot together, I can sense the maturity and I’ve got full belief that they’re going to take a step forward.”

Staios addressed the team on the eve of camp and his message surrounded having the right mix in the dressing room.

“It’s an over-used term, but I talked about the culture,” Staios said. “Our players are starting to see and sense a bit of a different attitude. There’s a bit of a different feel around our group. That’s really emphasis.

“Culture is just a word, but you’ve got to live it every day. I do believe our players who have been here understand that now. Certainly, with the additions and the type of players that we brought in will add to that.”

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Captain Brady Tkachuk leads a group that includes dynamic centre Tim Stutzle along with Josh Norris, Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig and alternate captain Thomas Chabot, but there will be a lot of new faces around them.

Staios rolled up his sleeves and made several changes during a busy off-season. The club acquired goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins in a blockbuster move in June, but also added veterans David Perron, Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins and Nick Jensen.

The club is hoping the veterans will help take the Senators to the next level.

“The tangibles will come with how we perform,” Staios said. “There’s a sense of professionalism and maturity. Watching these players come in early and seeing their commitment and fitness level, I guess that’s where I’m drawing that believe that they’ve made that next step.”

Now, it’s up to Green to help them get there, but he knows that’s not going to happen on the first day of camp. The players are split up into three groups and those will be changed throughout the course of camp with the season opener set for Oct. 10 against the Florida Panthers.

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“You can’t get everything done right away,” Green said. “There’s always a lot of talk about structure, teaching and, of course, we’ll have that in our camp, but for me it’s a little about the mindset of how we want to play, how we want to be perceived and the identity that we want to have.

“I’m looking for (Thursday’s) practice to be competitive, high-paced with good execution and attention to details. We want to be a team that’s very competitive and not only once in a while, but consistently.”

A lot of eyes will be on centre Josh Norris. He’s expected to be a full participant in training camp after the third shoulder surgery of his career in February. There has been some talk he may be shifted to the wing, but the plan is to use him in the middle.

“It’s his natural position. He’s had success at this level at that position so I think to start it’s important to put him at that spot,” Green said. “Just in my conversations, without knowing him in the past, he seems very confident, excited to get going and mature as well.

“We’ve had honest conversations about where he’s at physically, mentally, and we’ll continue to have dialogue with him to see where he’s at. There’s always bumps and bruises along the way, especially when you’re coming off injury, and we’ll monitor it daily to assess what he needs to get ready for the home opener.”

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The best way to put Wednesday at the rink was that it was “refreshingly boring” and normal. There were no players waiting to get a new contract in place and Green is new on the job with most of his staff so he’ll be given the opportunity to get this group headed in the right direction.

The focus in this camp will be on finding out where everybody fits to make sure they’re ready for opening night.

“There’s going to be competition everywhere,” Green said. “Everyone who’s mainstays in our group, but there is competition for certain spots up front and on our back end. For me, the best guys play and whoever is playing well is going to play.”

That will sort itself out through camp.

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