There won’t be many job openings when the Ottawa Senators open training camp next week at the Canadian Tire Centre. Read MoreDefencemen will be battling for playing time as team prepares for pre-season.
Defencemen will be battling for playing time as team prepares for pre-season.
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There won’t be many job openings when the Ottawa Senators open training camp next week at the Canadian Tire Centre.
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But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any battles for playing time.
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If defence wins championships, the Senators should have difficult decisions to make before the club opens the season against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Oct. 9.
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While Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub, Jordan Spence, Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo have the best shot to be the top six to start the year, there will be plenty of players pushing for time in camp.
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Though the above scenario could change if defenceman Nick Jensen is ready to start the season after having hip surgery in late May, that usually carries a recovery period of four to six months.
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There was no timeline given by Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, when the Senators confirmed Jensen had a procedure.
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By all accounts, Jensen — who played with the ailment for most of the second half last season — is ahead of schedule, but it remains doubtful that he’ll be ready for opening night.
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The Senators will have a better idea of the timeline if Jensen can be a full participant in camp. The players will report for medicals next Wednesday.
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That doesn’t mean he’ll miss the whole season or be out until Christmas, but the Senators won’t bring Jensen back until he’s 100% healthy, which means he’ll take whatever time is necessary.
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His absence will make it interesting in the push for jobs.
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“The goal is to try and build depth within a number of areas in the organization,” Staios said. “We have some competition on defence, without a doubt, and it creates (an atmosphere) for a competitive training camp.”
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Defenceman Lassi Thomson, who spent last year in Europe, was brought back on a one-year, two-way deal. The club’s top pick in the 2019 draft had a solid year in the Swedish league and will provide depth if he doesn’t make the club coming out of camp.
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The club also signed veteran Cameron Crotty to a two-year, two-way deal and brought back Donovan Sebrango as a restricted free agent.