–Robin Lehner talked about his journey as a player:
It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. (The Senators) are doing what they think is best for me. They’re trying to develop me as good as they want. I’m an asset to them and they want me to do as well as possible. I’ve got to trust them, too. They’ve got lots of hockey experience in this organization. I’m only 21 — I don’t know as much. I’m just eager to play and eager to show myself. I’ve got to deserve the opportunity first and that’s what I’m (trying to prove) now in the summer and heading to camp, to get them to want me to play here. That was just the thing for me, with the game in Boston and a few other games I played up here, to show myself and show other people that I can play at this level. I know I’ve got a long way to go and some technical things I need to work on, and I have to get more stable and be a little bit more calm in the net. People can look at it that way. This is a business and, of course, they’re going to do things money wise for the organization. That’s not my job. I have one job, to stop pucks and to try to stop as many as I can. That’s what it all comes down to in the end. You’ve got to believe it’s realistic (to make the team). I’m trying to prepare myself as well as I can to be able to get a spot. You never know. You go for it and you see what happens. I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited. Now, when I look back at it … it was a lot of good learning experiences. I think I developed as a goalie and I think I’ve developed and matured a lot as a (person). I’m starting to really know what it’s all about. Last year, in some ways, it didn’t go as we wanted, but it was a really good experience for us, too. Sometimes, that happens. Up here in Ottawa, it felt really good when I got the chance. The main thing for me is (having) the feeling that I got to be a better goalie. And I think I can stop more pucks this season.
The two comments that attract my attention are his mention of the team’s money concerns, which I take to be a reflection of Ben Bishop‘s one-way deal, and his comment about how things felt better in Ottawa, which is clearly where he would like to be. Unfortunately for Lehner, I don’t think it matters if he’s the second coming of Jacques Plante because the organisation is not going to send Bishop to the minors.
-With next to nothing to write about articles are appearing talking about Jared Cowen and Jakob Silfverberg playing in Binghamton if there is a lockout. This isn’t news to my mind–both players are signed and the organisation will decide where they play–but as I don’t believe the season is going to be effected by the CBA it’s largely a moot point anyway.
–Kyle Turris talked about the upcoming season:
It’s been great working with Schwarzy on things we want to get better at over the summer — getting stronger and putting on some weight. I feel really good. We’re all confident in our abilities as a team. It’s a lot of work to jell and combine together as a team over the course of a season. That’s why we had so much success over the course of last season and into the playoffs. We’re just going to have to do that again this year and everyone’s excited to get back at it. I think it’s exciting [playing with Latendresse]. It’s going to be fun. He’s a big, skilled player and he’s obviously a good player. It’s going to be a good addition for us and fun to have him as a part of our team. I enjoy every minute of it (here). It’s fun to go out and support different charities and learn more about them. I really enjoy going to those events and spending time in the city.
It will be interesting to see if Turris does add the strength he needs to his frame, since presumably that’s been something Phoenix was urging him to do while he was with their organisation.
-Every once and awhile I see an article like this one from Adam Proteau and wonder about the kind of defaults reporters use to fill space. Proteau argues that a second team in Toronto will create the pressure necessary to make the Maple Leafs more interested in winning. I have two of problems with this: 1) the assumption that the lack of a second team in the area means there’s no pressure on the Maple Leafs to win (a popular sentiment, but not something that’s demonstrable), 2) that the NHL will allow another team in Toronto. Unless Proteau can establish the former, his speculation is irrelevant.
This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)
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