Senators Announce Next Week's Development Camp Roster and Schedule
Ottawa takes stock of its prospect cupboard, which has definitely thinned out over the past couple of years.
Apr 4, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (35) reaches out to make a glove save against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports - Senators Announce Next Week's Development Camp Roster and ScheduleThe Ottawa Senators' annual summer development camp is a chance for the club's decision makers to go check on the kids and see if they're all right.
18 Sens draft picks, along with 18 undrafted free agents, will be put through their paces next week at Canadian Tire Centre and Bell Sensplex. The club has invited four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 18 forwards.
Defenceman Tyler Kleven will make his debut at the camp. After three years at the University of North Dakota, Kleven left school and joined the Sens and played eight NHL games last season. He'll eventually find his way to main camp this fall where, depending on what happens in free agency, he'll likely be battling for the sixth and final position on Ottawa's blue line. He and Levi Merilainen are the only players at camp with NHL experience.
Just based on their draft position, Kleven (44th in 2020), Tyler Boucher (10th in 2021) and Zack Ostapchuk (39th in 2021) are the camp's top prospects. Everyone else was drafted 64th or later, and half of the rest are free agents who weren't drafted by anyone.
Boucher is probably the most intriguing prospect, taken very early (some say too early) in the 2021 draft. If he can stay healthy and soon become the swift, punishing NHL forward they drafted him to be, Boucher would be just what the doctor ordered for Ottawa's bottom six. For the moment, the Sens just hope he can get through a season without needing any doctor's orders.
The prospects will take to the ice at Bell Sensplex on each of the five days. The camp's half-ice 3-on-3 tournament is usually a highlight of the camp and will be at Bell Sensplex on Thursday, July 6, at 3:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
On-ice schedule at Bell Sensplex:
- Sunday, July 2: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Monday, July 3: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 4: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 5: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Thursday, July 6: 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (3-on-3 tournamen