WARRENSPIECE: What’s in Zaitsev’s future, Greig sleeps easy and Stutzle mum on Giroux’s faceoff magic
Zaitsev #Zaitsev
When the training camp game of musical chairs ends on the Ottawa Senators’ defence, will there be spots for Nikita Zaitsev and Erik Brannstrom?
While Brannstrom had some tough moments in Tuesday’s 5-3 exhibition loss to the Winnipeg Jets, coach D.J. Smith cut him some slack, saying that his final position won’t be judged based on only one outing against a loaded Jets roster.
“This weekend’s games and the games out East (Oct. 6 in Gander, N.L., and Oct. 8 in Moncton, N.B., against Montreal) are going to dictate what we think of his camp overall,” he said.
As for whether the veteran Zaitsev can keep himself among the top six, playing every night, Smith was more cagey.
“Pro sports is the way it is and outside of the stars that are given spots, pro sports is … you’re in a fight all the time,” he said. “Not just for ice time, (it’s about) who is going out first on the penalty kill, who is going first on the power play? And that’s just part of it.”
Zaitsev, 30, struggled while playing with numerous partners throughout the 2021-22 season and the Senators attempted to trade him in the summer.
The biggest issue is his remaining contract. After receiving a $2 million signing bonus as part of his deal in the summer, he has a 2022-23 salary of $2.5 million. He is also due a $2 million signing bonus next summer and a $2.5 million salary for the 2023-24 season.
Barring injuries in the final five exhibition games, it’s possible Zaitsev could be placed on waivers.
Smith says there will be deep discussions between the management team and the coaching staff about “who’s going to be here in the end, who’s going to play and what happens.”
At this point, the only given on the blueline is that Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub will play together.
Rookie Jake Sanderson hasn’t secured anything just yet, but he’s sticking with Travis Hamonic for now.
“(Nick) Holden is going to be in there and these (other) guys are going to fight it out,” said Smith.
While Brannstrom is under pressure to hold on to a spot, Smith says he has been impressed by Senators draft picks Jacob Bernard-Docker, Lassi Thomson, Max Guenette and Jacob Larsson, who has played 165 games with the Anaheim Ducks during the past three seasons.
“These guys are competing,” Smith said. “I’m not saying that they’re going to be in the starting lineup, but at some point this year, I think we’re going to see all these guys.”
HAVE MATTRESS, WILL SLEEP: Ridly Greig has given new meaning to the term “low maintenance” prospect.
Greig has since moved in with captain Brady Tkachuk, but at one point he was rooming with Jake Sanderson and Shane Pinto.
When Pinto’s parents arrived and the house got crowded, he temporarily got relegated to the unfinished basement.
“I had to move down and help them out a little bit,” said Greig. “It was kind of a tough spot, but then I switched over to Brady’s and it has been quite a bit of an upgrade.”
What, exactly, were the basement arrangements?
“It was pretty much a mattress. We bought a couple of carpets. I don’t know, I’m not too high maintenance. I’m from out west. It wasn’t really a big issue for me. I thought it was fine. I’m sure some other people wouldn’t want to do it, but I thought it was OK.”
GAME ACTION ARRIVES
The off-ice arrangements cleared up, Greig has also taken all the strides necessary to play again following the left shoulder injury he suffered while with Canada at the world junior tournament in August.
He will be in the lineup either Friday against Toronto or Saturday versus Montreal.
“Getting that non-contact jersey off and roughing it up a little bit (at practice) was kind of the final part, so it feels good and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Greig, an edgy centre whose style has been compared to former Buffalo Sabres centre Mike Peca, registered 26 goals, 37 assists and 92 penalty minutes with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League last season.
He finished out the season playing in the Belleville Senators’ final playoff game and will likely begin the 2022-23 season there.
“It’s about long-term development for Ridly,” said Smith. “We’ll see how he looks in these games, but the organization knows he’s going to be a good player for a long time and we’ll do what’s right for him.”
THE SECRETS OF (FACEOFF) SUCCESS: Tim Stutzle continues to shadow Claude Giroux during free moments before and after practice, leaning on the veteran to learn the tricks of the faceoff trade.
After all, Giroux has taken 17,399 draws during his career, winning 9,707 — or 55.8 per cent — of them.
Stutzle has won only 188 of the 500 draws he has taken, for a 37.6 success rate.
Whatever Giroux is telling him, though, Stutzle isn’t ready to share.
“I think that’s got to stay within the team,” he said. “I don’t know if the media should know that. But (Giroux) has been so good for so many years, so I don’t want to say what he’s doing. I think everyone knows. He just keeps winning and winning the faceoffs.”
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