Normally, at this time of year, the Ottawa Senators would be getting the exhibition schedule under way and starting to shape the roster for the following season.
The club would have wrapped up its rookie tournament in Laval and the young players with a chance of making the roster would likely be getting their first opportunity to play in the pre-season. As we know, the threat of the novel coronavirus has changed all of that and the wait is even longer for the Senators because they were one of seven teams that didn’t take part in the NHL’s Return to Play.
As a result, it’s been six months since we last saw the Senators on the ice March 11 against the Los Angeles Kings and after listening to commissioner Gary Bettman Saturday it sounds doubtful training camp will get started Nov. 17 at the Canadian Tire Centre. A Dec. 1 start appears to be out the window as well and the hope right now is the league will make its way back in some way, shape or form in early-January.
But, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some kind of get-together for Ottawa players before camps open across the league The seven teams that didn’t take part in the post-season, including Detroit, Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim, New Jersey and Buffalo, have all appealed to the league to at least be allowed to have a longer training camp than the other 24 teams that took part in the post-season.
The word amongst league executives is the initiative is being led by Anaheim GM Bob Murray and he’s been the one dealing with the NHL head office about the possibility. All seven teams have made it clear they feel it’s important because of the length of time between games for their players.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly indicated in an email Monday afternoon that teams like the Senators, Wings, Kings, Sharks, Ducks, Devils and Sabres could be granted a longer camp if the NHL Players’ Association agrees to it.
“Yes, we have been talking with the union about giving the seven clubs additional days of mandatory training camp period prior to the opening of the main camp,” Daly wrote to Postmedia from Edmonton. “Timing would be tied entirely to the opening of training camp so remains uncertain.”
Coach D.J. Smith noted last week the Senators’ training staff has tried to stay in touch with their players and make sure they’re doing the proper training regimen for whenever the season gets under way.
Twitter: @sungarrioch
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