Frosh week is over and tomorrow pretty much the whole Ottawa Senators organization will descend on Canadian Tire Centre and report for medicals and physical testing Thursday morning after playing in the Annual Charity Classic Golf tournament today.
Fifty-seven players were given camp invites and will report on Thursday, and embark on a short camp before most of them head to St. John’s, Newfoundland for the opening exhibition game, which happens to be a double-header split-squad games against the New York Islanders on Monday afternoon and evening.
Five goalies, 19 defensemen and 33 forwards will be looking to make an impact and turn heads, and while a majority will not be considered to make the Ottawa Senators this time around, they will be trying to make an impression on the coaching staff and management that gives them something to think about going forward.
Of the 57 players invited, there are about 28 players who will be under any consideration at all for the NHL roster. Most of the roster spots are determined by contract, with a group of 8 blueliners likely set and 11 forward spots spoken for. There will be a competition for the last couple of forward spots between the likes of Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mike Hoffman Shane Prince and Matt Puempel.
For the rest, getting into an exhibition game or two and a chance to show their wares against NHL competition before heading to Binghamton camp, the East Coast league, back to junior or simply outright released from a tryout.
There is no shortage of storylines heading into camp from players needing bounce-back seasons, pending unrestricted free agents in contract negotiations and the potential naming of a new captain.
With the dawning of a new season, there are hopes and aspirations for the potential for success. There are wide and varying opinions as to what the Senators should look like when they break camp, and also about the prospects for the coming season.
But for now, everyone is reset at 0 and they can determine their own destiny beginning October 9th in Nashville.