Ottawa Senators Callup Tyler Kleven: "I Think That My Presence of Being Physical is Needed on This Team"

Kleven was recalled from the minors to replace injured defenceman Thomas Chabot Thursday night.

Mark Kastelic on Goals Between Now and End of Season

The TK-O-Train has arrived back in Ottawa.

Defenceman Tyler Kleven, the most physical prospect in the organization, has been recalled from the Belleville Senators. Kleven replaces Thomas Chabot, who'll miss the game with an injury that's been nagging him for a while.

Kleven had one assist in five games with the Senators earlier this season. In the AHL, he has 17 points in 45 games. But his calling card, at 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, is his physical play. Kleven showed a bit of confidence in evaluating the state of things in Ottawa when he was asked how he fits in.

"Yeah, I think that my presence of being physical is needed on this team," Kleven said. "I think that just playing my style, just being simple, moving pucks, I think that can be really helpful for this team.

"And I can bring offence as well, but I think that being that shut-down guy and being hard to play against is something that will help me out and hopefully keep me on the team."

Kleven got a chance to play eight games in Ottawa last season and he also filled in for five games when Chabot was injured this past November. Kleven says his brief stint earlier this season was helpful.

"Yeah, it gave me a little taste of the NHL again and made me want to go down there and work on my game and just do everything I can to get back up and be in this position," Kleven said.

Along with Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, Kleven is part of the North Dakota mafia in Ottawa. All four were teammates at one point at the University of North Dakota. Kleven feels like his game has grown a lot since leaving school last year and turning pro.

"Yeah, I think that it's grown over the year," Kleven said. "I think that pro hockey is a different style than college hockey and the coaching staff down there (in Belleville) have done a really good job of helping me grow my game and just learning the pro lifestyle."

It's a great opportunity for Kleven because, as he said, his style of game is just what this team needs. It's just a matter of whether he's NHL-ready yet or not.