With the official start of training camp just two days away, the Ottawa Senators appear to be cautious when discussing their expectations for the upcoming NHL season.
As the regular season looms three weeks ahead, the Senators recently participated in their annual Ottawa Senators Charity Open at Loch March Golf and Country Club. Following this, they will undergo physicals and testing, with the first day of camp set for Thursday.
While there’s a growing sense that the Senators are on the cusp of becoming a playoff contender after missing out by just six points last season, the team is staying tight-lipped about their postseason aspirations. When queried about playoffs and the possibility of building upon last season’s performance, Senators players refrained from making predictions.
Captain Brady Tkachuk stated, “We have a standard belief internally, but we’re going to keep it internal. If you mark what we can expect, the expectation and distraction would probably be too much. We have faith and belief in each other that we will focus on. There’s no number, no spot we’ve got marked.”
Claude Giroux echoed this sentiment, emphasizing taking the season one game at a time. “If you start looking at the big picture, it takes a lot of energy from you,” said Giroux. “You worry about the first game, then the second game after that.”
Tim Stutzle, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top players, emphasized the need to remain focused and not underestimate any opponent. “Everybody is putting pressure on us,” said Stutzle. “It will be a hard season; we can’t take any team lightly. We have a good enough team to be excellent. But we must go game by game daily and see where that takes us.”
Many Senators players have been skating together in Ottawa for several weeks, and the atmosphere is reportedly positive and full of anticipation. Tkachuk noted, “The best thing for us was being in the (playoff) hunt for the first time. (It gave us) some key valuable lessons we’re going to use moving forward. We all wanted to get back and get going again.”
Stutzle added, “Everybody’s ready; we can’t wait to get this season going. Get off to a good start and see how it goes. It’s always going to be tough. Every conference is good. Every team can beat every (other) team in the league. Finding the legs and getting back in game shape.”
The Senators focus on achieving balance and consistency as they prepare for the season. Securing victories even when they aren’t at their best is a hallmark of successful teams. Giroux noted, “There were stages during (last) season where we were a dangerous team, where we felt comfortable out there, and we knew the way we wanted to play to give us the win. Then there were some games where we weren’t consistent in what we were doing, which may cost us (a shot at the playoffs).”
For players like Tim Stutzle, who is part of the Senators’ promising core of young talent, the objective is to continue elevating their game. Stutzle, the third overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has steadily improved, and he’s eager to take his performance to new heights. “There’s always pressure to be better,” Stutzle remarked. “But it’s not just about putting up 50 goals, it’s about winning. If I can score goals, that’s awesome. But I must improve my two-way game; I’ve got to play in all situations. I think I progressed a lot last year; now it’s time to win more games.”
