OTTAWA — With training camp underway and two pre-season games in the books, here is a look at the most interesting players on the Ottawa Senators.
Yakemchuk shining
Carter Yakemchuk arrived at training camp with high expectations from fans, and he has not disappointed. With one camp experience under his belt, Yakemchuk has been quiet but in a good way, with no glaring mistakes. Just as he intended.
“Trying to contribute on both ends of the ice. Just play really well defensively,” he said.
Yakemchuk has the offence. He scored 30 goals in junior hockey, a feat accomplished just four times by a defenceman in the last 15 seasons. But to succeed in the NHL, he'll need to be sound defensively.
Head coach Travis Green made a lot of fans happy when he slotted Jake Sanderson and Yakemchuk together during Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The pair grew up together in Calgary, where Yakemchuk’s older brother Keeling was teammates with Sanderson in their youth.
“I (didn’t) realize how big he is until I go stand up next to him,” said Sanderson. “He's got a lot of potential.”
The duo was steady against Toronto, with Sanderson allowing Yakemchuk to take chances and create offence while matching up against Auston Matthews throughout. Sanderson's complete game complements Yakemchuk's physicality and offensive firepower. It was a snapshot of what could be the future No. 1 pairing of the Senators for the next half-decade.
Nick Jensen, 35, is back on the ice after a major resurfacing hip surgery, but his return date is uncertain, as is how good he will be. With Jensen sidelined, Yakemchuk has an opportunity to grab a spot as camp goes on.
Zetterlund finishing
Fabian Zetterlund has looked like a waterbug all camp.
“Finally,” he told reporters with a wry smile, about the feeling of starting his first camp in Ottawa.
A similar reaction was in store for Zetterlund when he scored a shorthanded marker in his pre-season debut. Last season, Zetterlund struggled and scored just two goals after being acquired at the trade deadline. His hulking strength, compete and shot suggest the production should go up, although he has never shown to be adept at playmaking.
Tuesday's goal was a good start, and if it continues, Zetterlund will be another weapon for the Senators on offence.
Cozens an x-factor
Dylan Cozens has been good in his first camp with the Senators, including against the Maple Leafs. Cozens provides elite puck carrying and a thumping shot, but his consistency and defensive proficiency have been questioned in the past. The Senators need the full package if they are to vault into contention.
Cozens started the odd-man rush that led to Zetterlund's shorthanded goal on Tuesday. But he also showed flaws when he lost Matthews, of all people, in the slot in his own end, which led to a goal.
Cozens wasn't trusted to defend Matthews in the playoffs last season, and half of the offence he generated after the trade to the Senators came on the power play. The next step for Cozens is to play disciplined defensively while producing more of his offence at five-on-five to become the play driver Ottawa hopes he can be.
Pinto’s primed for a career year
Shane Pinto might have the most on the line of any Senators player this season as he enters the final year of his contract. Pinto, 25, has looked better than ever in camp and dazzled with two late goals in his first pre-season game. He is the ultimate jack-of-all-trades forward with his ability to shut down the opponent's best players and his lethal shot that has produced two 20-goal seasons.
With future earnings on the line, Pinto is probably hoping to see more power play time this season after Green prioritized his penalty killing last year. Nevertheless, Pinto will be motivated to score more and get more offensive zone time.
Ullmark disappoints early
It never inspires confidence when your starting goaltender says he’s terrible in training camp and then plays poorly in his first game. But that's what happened to Ullmark after he let in three goals on eight shots in one period in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
"Better to get them over with in the first start than having to save them all for the season," Ullmark said Sunday.
Optimistically for Senators fans, Ullmark has a Vezina Trophy in his cabinet, and despite ups and downs, he had a .910 save percentage last season. But, in sports, the questions always come back to recent performance, and for Ullmark, that means looking at his .880 save percentage in the playoffs and poor first showing in the pre-season. It’s a story to follow, because the Senators won't win many games without good goaltending.
The good news is that Leevi Merilainen, to the eye test, has been wonderful in camp and was solid in his first pre-season outing Tuesday, stopping 23 of 25 shots in two periods of action.
13th forward
The Senators brought back almost everyone from last season, which means it won't be easy for some newcomers to crack the lineup, especially at forward. Arthur Kaliyev and Olle Lycksell are competing for a spot on the roster and both have looked sharp. Lycksell has defined himself with a high compete level and defensive responsibility matched with some skill. Meanwhile, Kaliyev may be poised to be the first call-up from Belleville if Ottawa has an injury in its top six, as he's always a threat with his shot and can be a power-play option. Kaliyev has a chance to be this year's Adam Gaudette, as a player who barely cracks the squad only to pop with a scoring touch.
As for other battles, veteran Nick Cousins has said he isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, while Zack MacEwen has morphed into a natural fourth-line winger who bruises, fights and has a cannon of a shot. Assuming Lars Eller is healthy after a minor surgery, watch out for the youngsters in Lycksell and Kaliyev to challenge for a spot.
Spence an upgrade on blue line
The upgrade to Jordan Spence from Travis Hamonic is set to be significant. Early on in his Senators tenure, Spence has proved to be an effective puck mover, with great gap control and good hockey IQ. He’s no star, but he’s a really good NHLer. Don’t be shocked if the Senators score a lot of goals at five-on-five when he’s on the ice due to his offensive abilities. Spence was a plus-23 last season in L.A.
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