(Arlington, Va.) The Ottawa Senators offense can certainly be expected to create a lot of damage this season.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The gifted young people continue their ascent: Josh Norris, Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson and especially Brady Tkachuk. Renowned veterans were added during the summer: Alex DeBrincat, through a trade, and Claude Giroux, as a free agent. We could even talk about Alex Formenton, Mathieu Joseph or Shane Pinto, potential contender for the Calder trophy.
But in defense, it is a little thinner. Let’s go back: much thinner.
There is of course Thomas Chabot, who needs no introduction. Artem Zub seems to have established himself as a safe bet. However, after them, it falls low. Jacob Bernard-Docker and Lassi Thomson have acquired mileage in the American League, but you wouldn’t call them finished products.
This is where Jake Sanderson joins the discussion. The 20-year-old American is undoubtedly the team’s most promising prospect on the blue line, if not all positions combined. The Senators selected him in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2020 draft.
A gifted offensive back and reliable in his zone, he is praised for his control of the puck.
Sanderson wrapped up his second and final season at the University of Dakota last spring, earning a nomination for the Hobey-Baker Trophy, awarded to the most valuable college player of the year.
Last winter, he was also part of the American team at the Beijing Olympics. Although he has only played one game at the tournament, he gets excited when talking about the experience he gained there.
“I think I’ve gained confidence,” he said last week on the sidelines of the NHL Rookie Showcase in Arlington, Virginia.
“I was able to compete against older guys from all over the world. And it’s still the Olympics, so it’s pretty cool to have the chance to go! »
Pressure
In Ottawa, he is eagerly awaited. Nothing is ever certain, but it seems very likely that, given the maturity of his game, he will be integrated immediately into the main training without going through the American League.
I know that [la direction] sees me in the team, and me too. Ultimately, it’s up to me to look good at camp and let things happen.
Jake Sanderson
His impression is not unfounded. On the eve of the draft, held in early July in Montreal, general manager Pierre Dorion said, “without wanting to put too much pressure on him”, that his team had “something special” in hand with Sanderson.
However, he will have to test his left hand, which has been operated on twice in the past year. The most recent procedure, performed at the end of the season, cost him several weeks of summer training. In particular, he had to ignore the Sens development camp.
However, he spent the summer in the federal capital to be followed by the club’s medical staff. His hand will be “100%” in training camp, he says.
He obviously claims to count the days before the start of the camp, after a long convalescence. But he is not the only one.
In addition to DeBrincat and Giroux, the Senators have their hands on goaltender Cam Talbot. For the first time in years, the team could stay in the hunt for the playoffs until the end of the season and, why not, reach it.
In recent interviews, Thomas Chabot did not hide his enthusiasm to finally be better surrounded. “It’s very cool to see these big names coming up,” added Sanderson.
Fans seem to share his opinion, as ticket sales have already skyrocketed.
The young man also met Giroux and DeBrincat who came to take their turn on the ice, and the two are “wrapped”, he says. Giroux and Talbot, two of the deans of the formation, will bring “leadership” to a very young group. “It’s important to us,” he added.
As for the expectations towards him, they do not prevent him from sleeping. “Personally, I know how comfortable I am with my game, how good my hand is and how hard I worked. I just can’t wait for it to start! »