Parker Kelly’s path to the NHL and Senators was playing 200-foot game

Article content

For Parker Kelly, playing effectively at both ends of the rink goes way back to his AAA hockey days in Alberta, with the Camrose Vikings.

Article content

Then, when he got to junior hockey with the Prince Albert Raiders, he got some advice from his coach, Marc Habscheid, words that have stuck with him into his fourth season with the Ottawa Senators.

Article content

“It was my draft year and I wasn’t really sure what type of player I was going to be,” said Kelly, who went undrafted. “Marc sat me down and said, ‘Listen, if you want to make the NHL, this is how you’re going to have to play. I’m going to put you on the top line and you’re going to work your bag off and make space for the other guys.’ It was being drilled into me, defence is going to get you to the NHL.

“I trusted (Habscheid), I owe a lot to him. My game changed. I started playing with an edge, really just a straight-line game. I started to outwork other people. (Senators assistant coach) Ben Sexton has been great on video with me. (Former Belleville Senators head coach) Troy Mann, too. In Belleville, they knew the player you were going to be in the NHL. I was playing the same role in Belleville as I am here. So, I had two years to work on my role as a penalty killer and third- and fourth-line guy, hone it and learn how to become a pro.”

Article content

So far this season, the 24-year-old winger has two goals (both short-handed) and three assists. In 128 NHL games, he has 11 goals and 11 assists. In his final season in Prince Albert, he had 35 goals in 64 games. So, he can score. It’s just not his role in Ottawa.

“Since I was little, I was always on the power play and penalty kill. Even in junior, I played both,” he said. “But I’ve had it ingrained in me to take pride in defence first and if the offence comes … great.

“There are a lot of players who are probably way more skilled than I am, but I like to think I have a bit more compete and the willingness to do whatever it takes to make the NHL. If I didn’t have Marc Habscheid, Ben Sexton and Troy Mann in my corner, I might not be here today. I believed in them and they believed in me. I’m not really thinking about being flashy, I just want to work hard and try to do things right.”

Article content

With a penalty-kill percentage of 71.3 per cent, the Senators are the worst in the NHL. By comparison, the No. 1-ranked Los Angeles Kings have stopped opponents on 87 per cent of their penalties. The Senators gave up two power-play goals in four opportunities in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

The Senators are putting in the work to get better on both their penalty kill and power play.

“We’ve made some tweaks and adjustments in how we play,” said Jacques Martin, who took over as head coach when D.J. Smith was fired Dec. 18. “It’s difficult because we have so many games and very few practices. We’re trying to tweak certain areas and focus on certain things, maybe pay a little more attention to detail, trying to nullify the seam passes, for instance.

Article content

“Hopefully we can build some confidence and be more effective. Special teams are crucial. If you’re winning that part of the game, it gives you a better chance of winning the hockey game.”

Kelly is on Ottawa’s first-team penalty-kill unit and is trying to do his part.

“I’m happy with the way my game has been recently and feel like I’m back to being confident with the puck, making plays and being a good 200-foot player. That’s ultimately what my job description is. 

“When you’re a (penalty) killer, your main objective and what you take pride in is not letting the  power play score on you. That’s my mentality first. There are going to be times where you can jump up into the play and try to get an offensive chance, you’re always looking for that. But if you play responsibly, pick your spots wisely and don’t cheat the game, your kill is going to have a good chance.”

Article content

ICE CHIPS: Defenceman Thomas Chabot (knee) could return from the long-term injured reserve list as early as Sunday. He’s been out since the beginning of December. Said Martin: “I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t know if he’s quite ready yet.” … Defenceman Artem Zub was not at Saturday’s practice. Asked about it, Martin said: “It was a day of inactivity (for Zub), just getting some treatment. I would assume he would be OK (Sunday). We just felt like he needed (a maintenance day).” … Asked about a dubious interference penalty he was given late in the first period Friday (the Devils scored a power-play goal 12 seconds later), winger Claude Giroux said: “I guess I was kind of (in Erik Haula’s) way. I didn’t try to get in his way, it kind of just happened. I didn’t move my body. Sometimes you get the call, sometimes you don’t. When that happens, you have to stay calm and just keep playing. I lost my composure a bit.”

Article content