Ottawa Senators winger Mathieu Joseph has 16 points in 19 games and has arguably been the club's best two-way forward this season.
Back in the summer, Mathieu Joseph wasn't exactly a fan favourite. He had just come off a poor first season on his four-year, 2.95 million (AAV) contract. With the Senators meandering near the upper limits of the salary cap, Joseph was frequently mentioned in trade rumours.
But Joseph’s play this season has created a 180-degree turnaround on how he's perceived. With 16 points in 19 games and a team-leading +11, the Laval, Quebec native has quieted his skeptics.
Joseph spoke with the Hockey News Ottawa about what has changed this season for him in 2023.
“Honestly, I think, I'm not rushing my plays as much as the past couple years,” Joseph said. “I think the big difference for me is my poise so far this year. I hold on to the puck a little bit more.
"I think the game is slowing down a little bit for me by not looking at the puck as much and making plays under pressure; and maybe trusting myself on beating guys one-on one a little bit more too. So, I think it comes with time and reps and confidence.”
Joseph’s poise was on full display Saturday night when he grabbed a turnover in front of the Seattle net and instead of rushing to shoot, he took his time and waited out the goalie to score. The Joseph of the past might not have had the poise and confidence to do that.
Joseph admits that being higher up in the lineup has helped this season.
“Of course, the players you play with give you confidence,” Joseph said. "I always did believe that I was a guy who can be dangerous in this league. But the more you believe in it, the more you repeat it, the more your brain is telling you, 'You can do it.'”
Joseph says he really worked on his game in the off-season to feel prepared this year.
“I think it started in the summer, to try to show up at camp with a good mentality," Joseph said. “And show some confidence at camp as well. Hopefully, I can keep doing what I'm doing right now.”
Now 26, when Joseph looks back at his early days as a pro, he feels like his first year in the AHL with Syracuse was important for the mental side of his game.
“My first year in the AHL really helped with that," Joseph said. “I played 70 games at 20 years old in Syracuse. I was touching the ice a lot, making plays a lot, playing the first power play. It's things like that which definitely help for confidence.
“When I made the team in Tampa, I felt like I had this confidence in my game of holding onto the puck, bringing it up the ice. I had a pretty good year that year, I'd say, as a rookie.”
But after his rookie year, things became harder.
“I maybe kind of lost it a little bit after that,” said Joseph. “I was trying maybe not to make a mistake instead of making a play. Sometimes, you have a little bit more freedom, a little bit more leash, a little bit more room to make plays. And like I said, I think it's reps and confidence over the years and that definitely can change things.”
For Joseph, being in the NHL is the new normal. But when he got in the league, he felt starstruck sometimes.
"I think it was my seventh game; in Chicago against the Blackhawks,” Joseph said. “One of my favourite players growing up was Patrick Kane and having him beside at the faceoff there in the United Center was definitely an 'I made it to the NHL' kind of moment for me.”
Joseph’s spectacular start to the season has turned heads in Ottawa. He's learned from the past, feels confident, and appears to be on his way to a career season.