Guy Boucher ready for the challenge ahead
Bruce Garrioch
LONDON — Guy Boucher is all in.
As training camp shifts into high gear with the opening of pre-season Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs in nearby Lucan, Ont., the Ottawa Senators’ coach is excited by what he’s seen from the group of 56 players in camp and now he’s ready to see which players are ready to take the next step.
Yes, there are lots of questions about the club’s rebuild after the Senators dealt captain Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks last week in a massive deal, however, Boucher likes the prospects and he’s prepared for the challenge with a lineup that will see no shortage of new faces this season.
All eyes through the pre-season will be on the likes of top selection Brady Tkachuk along with prospects Alex Formenton, Drake Batherson, Colin White, Filip Chlapik, Christian Wolanin and Christian Jaros to see if they’re ready to make the next step to the NHL.
Though the fanbase is concerned about this rebuild, Boucher told this newspaper in a one-on-one interview he’s excited.
“I’ve lived it before at different levels” Boucher said on the weekend. “As long as you know that’s what you’re doing, and you’re not lying to yourself or the public or everybody, that what you’re doing is growing.
“I remember in junior, after my first year in Drummondville, we felt we were going to have an average team and we decided, ‘Let’s go for it’. We went with 15 rookies, we traded away some guys, we knew it would hurt and it was difficult, but because we said that we were going to groom our young guys the barn was full all year. We never won but it was a great year.
“Everybody was on the same page and everybody knew we were going and guess what happened? The year after that we won the championship and we broke 31 records — offensive records of all kinds.”
But this is going to be a lot different than junior for Boucher because this is a rebuild that needs to be sold publicly. The fanbase isn’t pleased that Karlsson was dealt for a package that’s most made up picks and prospects. The decision has been made to take a step back to try to take a step forward.
However, Boucher is hopeful that the group assembled is able to gel together quickly to get the job done. He’s appreciated the attitude of the young players and is hopeful they’ll be able to make the next step to be ready for opening night Oct. 4th against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“As much as we’ve heard we’re going to have a lot of new players and young kids, some are clear because they’re trades and the guys are here, but you’re not going to have a young guy just because you want to have a young guy in the lineup. The kid has got to be ready,” Boucher said.
“It doesn’t mean he’s going to be perfect NHLer. You’re not looking for that, you’re looking to see the increments in his learning, growth and confidence. When you see that you can make a projection that in ‘X’ amount of time it will be good for him and good for the team. That’s why you need some time.
“They’re just kids — but some of these kids they just have it right away and they’re pros in their minds already. They get here first, leave last, in the gym and you never have to tell them when things are at. Those things don’t lie.”
Guy Boucher ready for the challenge ahead
