Belleville Senators 2018-19 Preview: Welcome to Year Two!
BELLEVILLE - Coming off a 29-42-3-2 record, the Ottawa Senators had an extremely active off-season. The organization looked to retool the Belleville Senators, as Ottawa's American Hockey League affiliate finished outside the playoffs five of the last seven years. Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion took the proactive route, not shying away from revamping the roster in the Friendly City.
Belleville struggled in their inaugural season, fighting their way through call-ups, injuries and lack of depth, finishing 14th in the AHL Eastern Conference and allowing 266 goals against, for an average of 3.5 goals against per game, which was second highest in the American Hockey League. Only 401 rival the Laval Rocket allowed more with 281 total and 3.70 per game.
The offense was not much better, struggling to find any kind of offensive consistency in their inaugural season, finishing at 27th in goals per game, and averaging just 2.55 back of the 2.95 league average.
"Last season's roster lacked high-end talent, and I was not all that impressed with some of the veterans," said NHL.com's AHL correspondent, Patrick Williams. "The team had minimal margin for error, and it quickly came undone once injuries and recalls hit. Dealing with injuries and recalls is a fact of life in the AHL, and teams that want to compete for a playoff spot must have some flexibility built into the roster. Depth is king in the AHL."
Overview of off-season roster moves:
Additions: Mike McKenna, Julius Bergman, Stuart Percy, Christian Wolanin, Rudolfs Balcers, Chase Balisy, Drake Batherson, Logan Brown, Paul Carey, Joseph LaBate and Adam Tambellini.
Departures: Danny Taylor, Ville Pokka, Mike Blunden, Daniel Ciampini, Kyle Flanagan, Nick Moutrey, Francis Perron, Tyler Randell, Max Reinhart, Eric Selleck and Ethan Werek.
Graduates: Thomas Chabot, Ben Harpur, Max Lajoie, Max McCormick and Colin White.
"I definitely feel that substantial - and necessary - moves were made to improve the on-ice product in Belleville considerably," added Williams. "Quality talent was added at all positions, and a good veteran base was added. As long as the roster is not subject to constant upheaval as Ottawa enters its rebuilding stage, Belleville has a lot of potential to be a playoff team. I would put them in the top-five of the most significantly active AHL teams this summer."
Belleville’s 2018-19 opening night roster will feature eleven newcomers. The club's added depth will see 16 players (66.6%) who have appeared in NHL game action, combining for a total of 316 appearances.
Key newcomers look to boost the offense
"Fans in the Eastern Conference may not be familiar with Rudolfs Balcers, but he will be a major addition to the Belleville line-up, provided that he remains in the AHL for any substantial length of time," said Williams. "Chase Balisy and Adam Tambellini are each proven offensive talents at the AHL level, and Paul Carey is a top-end sniper capable of 30-35 goals over a full AHL season."
A key in the Erik Karlsson deal, Rudolfs Balcers will be under the microscope. No question the speedy Latvian is up to the task. Balcers notched 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 67 games for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL last season, earning an AHL All-Star selection in his rookie campaign. His speed, skill and scoring ability will contribute to Belleville's transition game and overall offensive production – which were areas of need last season.
Carey, an elite AHL scorer, joins the Senators' organization after agreeing to terms on a two-way pact on July 1st, following a 60 game season with the New York Rangers last season, tallying 14 points. The Boston native reconnects with head coach, Troy Mann. The pair has had prior success in Hershey during the 2016-2017 season, where Carey scored 55 points in 55 games.
Key returnees
"I am very interested to see Ben Sexton's play after last season was interrupted by injuries," said Williams. "This is a massive season in Nick Paul's career trajectory."
Belleville hockey fans saw a glimpse of Sexton's offensive prowess, battling back from injuries and tallying 10 goals and 21 points in 30 games. His impressive play would earn him a two-game call-up in Canada's capital. Belleville not only missed his offensive production due to injuries but the club also missed valuable leadership. Sexton was announced as the team’s 2017-18 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year.
Nick Paul, who ended his third pro season on a high note by registering 19 points in his last 25 games, hasn't looked to miss a beat from late-season production notching three points in two pre-season games, finding chemistry with first-year pro's Drake Batherson and Logan Brown. The trio would combine for eleven points in two contests.
Leading goal scorer Gabriel Gagne (20) and point producer Filip Chlapik (32) from last season have also been returned.
Young Guns
"There is also a very promising group of first - and second - year talent that I expect to contribute in Belleville," noted Williams. "However, the adjustment to the AHL can be a rude one for rookies, and patience is a must."
Highly-touted Senators prospects’ Logan Brown (3g-1a) and Drake Batherson (1g-3a) came as advertised and were key cogs in a perfect 2-0 pre-season, finishing with a combined eight points.
"Drake Batherson and Logan Brown are obvious choices," said Williams. "I am also very interested in Aaron Luchuk. Plenty of NHL players went undrafted and overlooked. Where his career takes him remains to be seen, but he has done everything that can be expected of him in the OHL. Now it is time to do the same at the AHL level. He would not be the first player get an AHL opportunity, bring a bit of a chip on his shoulder (in a good way), and take advantage of it. At the very least, if he can find a niche at the AHL level, depth and skill at this level can only be a positive for the development of every player. Depth breeds competition. I saw this first-hand when I covered the Winnipeg Jets. It was only when they had amassed depth at all positions that they were able to create an environment in which jobs were earned, not handed out. That went well beyond the top of the line-up and the likes of Patrik Laine. Where it really took hold was in the middle and the bottom of the NHL line-up and down to the AHL level, and that has obviously a major difference for the Jets."
Belleville's established forward depth will see Kingston native Aaron Luchuk begin his professional career in the ECHL, skating with the Brampton Beast. 24 year-olds Boston Leier and Ryan Scarfo also fall casualties to Belleville's new-found forward depth.
Defense
A revamped blueline in the Friendly City features newcomers Stuart Percy, Christian Wolanin, and Julius Bergman. The group is tasked with improving last season’s difficulties. Veteran minute munchers Patrick Sieloff and Eric Burgdoerfer are back to man the blueline in Belleville. Andreas Englund, Jordan Murray and Christian Jaros will also mark their returns to the CAA Arena.
Sieloff, a hard-nosed defenceman, took home Belleville Senators' Defenceman of the Year award. A physical presence on the back-end, he led Belleville in penalty minutes at 108. Not known for his offensive game, he scored just once, adding nine assists in 58 contests with the B-Sens.
Murray, who enters a contract year, didn’t disappoint in his first professional season, leading all defenceman in scoring by tallying 23 points in 58 games.
Goaltending
"The addition of Mike McKenna in net should be a significant one for Belleville," said Williams. "Along with his strong work in net, he will also allow their two young goaltending prospects the sort of breathing room that is necessary as they continue their development. McKenna is a proven mentor wherever he has been, and he will be a good listening board for the two youngsters."
Last year the Belleville Senators' carried up to four goaltenders at one time. In total, five goalies suited up in the black, red and white, which never quite allowed for the team to find a groove.
Relief is on it's way in the form of Mike McKenna. The winningest U.S.-born goaltender in American Hockey League history, McKenna ranks 10th all-time in wins (223) and is tied for ninth in shutouts (27). He is a proven winner, who led his two previous teams, Syracuse (2016) and Texas (2017) to the Calder Cup finals, and Belleville hockey fans are hoping his winning ways will continue.
24-year-old Marcus Hogberg will serve as McKenna’s backup.
Billed as Senators’ future in net, 20-year-old Filip Gustavsson will start the season in Brampton (ECHL) as the Senators take a cautious approach with the youngster, easing him into the North American game, while allowing him to see more game action as the bonafide number one with the Beast.
Coaching change
The makeover did not stop on the ice. The organization went in a different direction behind the bench by hiring Troy Mann to replace Kurt Kleinendorst.
"The addition of head coach Troy Mann. I had a fair bit of experience dealing with him while he was with the Hershey Bears," noted Williams. "He is extremely intense and demanding - not in a yelling or screaming manner, but rather in his being a strong stickler for details. Some players might find that uncomfortable, but Mann's track record with the Washington Capitals in preparing players for the NHL was excellent."
Troy Mann, doesn’t pull any punches. His goal is to win hockey games and that is what he does, guiding his club to two Atlantic Division titles and a Calder Cup final appearance in 2016. Mann would play a hand in the development of 2017-18 Stanley Cup winners Jakub Vrana, Chandler Stephenson, Christian Djoos, Braden Holtby, John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Andre Burakovsky, Jay Beagle, Tom Wilson, Nathan Walker, Travis Boyd and Madison Bowey. The 48-year-old has posted a .598 winning percentage in the last four seasons. The Ottawa Senator's affiliate managed a .440 winning percentage over that same time span.
The Senators will kick off their season on the road Saturday night in Utica, as they take on the Comets.
