The team hit the ice at TD Station this morning in what will be - without question - the strangest camp in team history due to COVID-19 guidelines. Seeing photos and video from inside the rink made things seem almost normal. Then you remember what the date is; you see how few players are the ice for opening day; and you realize that typically you're in the building to see this. This is not a normal training camp, but it's great to have something sort of normal back.
An exciting season is in front of us. We've arrived at the point where this Sea Dogs core should be hitting an upswing - and a major one at that. This team has the potential to be one of the CHL's best not just this season, but next season and the one after that as well. Potential is the key word though. Now is the time to begin showing that this potential is real.
Here are a few things to keep an eye on as training camp ramps up over the next few days and weeks.
GILBERT'S IMPACT
There will be plenty of new faces at training camp. Veterans like Christopher Inniss, Nicholas Girouard and Liam Leonard were acquired via trades. NCAA commits Peter Reynolds and Cam MacDonald signed with the club. Leighton Carruthers and Nathan Drapeau were picked in the first-round of the QMJHL Entry Draft. With all these major additions, it's easy to forget perhaps the team's biggest acquisition: head coach Greg Gilbert. Gilbert has coached in the NHL, AHL and OHL previously, and that experience could prove pivotal over the next few seasons. His impact on the Sea Dogs could be huge.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Speaking of Gilbert, it will be interesting to see how differently the team's structures are this season compared to the last two. The biggest question, as it has been over those last two seasons, is if Saint John can play better in their own end. We know that Saint John's defensive core can score, but now is the time to show that it can defend as well. Improving defensive play could be the difference between this Sea Dogs core being a good team or a great one.
SCORING
On the flip side of defense, Saint John's offense is an interesting one. The team has lost four of its top 10 scorers from last season: Jeffrey Durocher, Anderson MacDonald, Maxim Cajkovic and Nicholas Deakin-Poot. Three of the other top 10 scorers were defensemen: William Villeneuve (who led the team in scoring), Jeremie Poirier and Charlie DesRoches. Saint John is going to need more offensive production from its returning forwards. On paper the offense should be better - but they need some things to go right. Brady Burns, Joshua Roy and Josh Lawrence - who all finished top 10 in team scoring last season - are back. Hopefully returnees like Dawson Stairs, Alex Drover and Charles Savoie can step up. Vladislav Kotkov (assuming he gets to Saint John) and Nicholas Girouard should help, as should Peter Reynolds and Cam MacDonald. The potential for scoring is there, the team just needs to put it all together.
THE FINAL SPOTS
While much of the Sea Dogs roster is essentially set, there are a few final spots that a small number of players will be fighting for. On the backend, assuming Jan Hampl is able to make it to Saint John at some point, there is only one spot available, which will likely come down to either Brendan Sibley or Nathan Drapeau. Up front, there are only one or two spots as well, and the acquisition of overager Vladislav Kotkov creates even less room. We'll see what happens.
COVID
This is going to be the strangest training camp and season we've ever seen. On-ice activity will be pretty much the same as usual, but that's about it. The Sea Dogs - knock on wood - seem fortunate in that the pandemic hasn't impacted the team's roster too much. But there's no question that some players may not be as physically or mentally prepared for this season as they would be in normal times. That's really nobody's fault - but it could create some complexities when it comes to making some final roster decisions.
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