Here’s the latest batch of Senators stories:
-Brad Emons of the Observer & Eccentric interviewed Erik Condra (www.hometownlife.com/article/20110904/SPORTS10/109040534/Condra-acquires-taste-NHL). Besides comments about this past season, Condra also talked about his preparations going into camp: “It’s been kind of a trial (off)-season,” said Condra, who signed a two-year deal with Ottawa on July 6. “Before this year, I only played into April, but this year I played over 100 games and into mid-June. You need the rest and recuperation, but you also want to be ready for next season. It’s kind of been a trial of getting my body back into the recovery mode, but also getting stronger and more explosive for next season.”
-Tal Pinchevsky wrote an article about Corey Locke for NHL.com (www.nhl.com/ ice/news.htm?id=587692#&navid=nhl-search). Pinchevsky calls Locke “fleet-footed”, which is ironic since his lead feet are one of his major impediments in being an NHL-regular. Locke said “There’s a different coaching staff now and I think there’s a different mentality behind what our team will look like. Time will tell. We have to get to training camp first and you just want to impress the coaching staff and give yourself the best opportunity to make the team.” I thought Bruce Boudreau’s comment about himself in relation to Locke was the most interesting and telling, “He’s probably as smart as any of the top NHL guys going. With the puck, he can make plays if you give him the time and the space. I was 38 in the IHL, and I still thought I had a chance [at playing in the NHL].” The dream never dies, but I don’t see Locke making the team–he isn’t the first AHL all-star who doesn’t make the transition, nor will he be the last.
-No Senator rookie made Sports Illustrated‘s NHL rookies worth watching list (http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2011/08/26/12-more-nhl-rookies-worth-watching/?sct=nhl_bf1_a3). The rookies mentioned are Erik Gudbranson (Flo), Jordan Caron (Bos), Zac Dalpe (Car), Andrei Lokitonov (LA), Braden Holtby (Wsh), Tim Erixon (NYR), Ben Smith and Marcus Kruger (Chi), and Jonathan Blum, Ryan Ellis, Blake Geoffrion, and Craig Smith (Nsh). I’m not sure the list is worth commenting on, but I will say that Nashville is reluctant to play rookie defensemen (Ellis), nor is there much room on Boston’s roster for Caron.
-In the same vein, no Senator made ESPN’s list of under-the-radar players who are set to make an impact (http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/10921/under-the-radar-players-set-to-make-impact).
The Senators website has been conducting interviews with players over the last two weeks and here are the highlights:
-Rob Brodie interviewing Erik Karlsson (http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587342), who talked about the upcoming season, “I think it’s going to be exciting for everybody. I’m really looking forward to being one of the guys that’s going to look after some (new) guys, maybe. Even though I’m still young, I think I like that role and I’m really looking forward to getting the season going now.” And “I think it will be a good year for us. We have a lot of young guys, but we’ve still got the veterans we need. It’s going to be an exciting year to watch. We’ll be a fun team to watch and we’re going to play some good hockey.”
-Brodie interviewing Peter Regin (http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587528), who talked about last season “I know I can play better. Most of the guys in the room know that they can play better. So I think we’re all excited to be back and to really show that we’re a better hockey team than we showed last year.” And “You can’t have too many bad years in this league and hang around, so I have to improve myself. I’ll try to relax a little bit more and just go out and play and do my thing. I think it’ll be better if I just do that.” About the upcoming year “If we play that kind of style [as expressed by Paul MacLean] and skate a lot, I think that will fit me well. That’ll be exciting. We’re going to be a hard-working team that skates with a lot of energy … we’ll have that energy within the group.”
-Brodie interviewing Sergei Gonchar (http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587620). The veteran talked about the upcoming season, “It’s going to be kind of a fresh start for all of us. We’ve done a few chages since last year and last season was a big disappointment for all of us. So I think, going forward, it’s going to be a fresh start, not only for me but for all of us. With a new coach (Paul MacLean), I’m sure there are going to be adjustments and it’s going to benefit all of us, not just me.” And “The skill level on this team is very high … now we have to get on the same page and deliver.”
-Sens TV Interviewing Bobby Butler (video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=122328&navid=DL|OTT|home), in which he says he’s unsure how coach Paul MacLean will be using him this season.
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