Senators Media: Coach Dave Cameron Interview
Apr 12, 2016 2:19:07 GMT -5
bjernagris (PHI) likes this
Post by brob89 (NSH) on Apr 12, 2016 2:19:07 GMT -5
- OTTAWA
Sitting down with Ian Medes of TSN, Dave Cameron, third year coach of the Ottawa Senators, seemed to be in a somewhat positive mood despite
his team's most recent game, a lopsided defeat to the aptly named New Jersey Devils.* The Senators were a team which many in the off season thought
would be one of the best teams in the league in 2016-2017, but after starting the year with only 3 wins in the first 9 games this roster full of highly coveted
players started to look a little like fools gold.
Ian Mendes: I'm sure you're still processing things that have happened while at the same time dealing with the games ahead and finding ways to improve, but looking
back, what do you think contributed to your team's difficult start?
Cameron: Well, it's not just one thing, right? It's learning a new system. It's building chemistry with new line-mates, and even figuring out how to
use all of these new guys together. So, I think there were growing pains for all of us as a group, and once we figured it out we were able to begin
taking positive steps. We played some tough teams in the first 10 games as well, and really there are no easy games in the iNHL. But mostly, I
think it was just us figuring out how to gel as a team.
IM: Since those first 9 games, your team has been on a bit of a tear, going 10-3-0. Do you attribute that all to chemistry and players learning your
system, or is it something else?
Cameron: Well, it's that, and it's players going through the ebbs and flows of excelling and struggling at different times, and also - you know - we
as a coaching team had to figure out how to use these players in the best way possible. GM Lawblaw, and I had some hard discussions after that difficult
start, and it put me in a position to really grow as a coach, I think. This roster that we have right now is different from any roster on any team I've
ever coached. Any team would love to have an Offensive defenceman like Karlsson or Vatanen, let alone having both. And I realized that at first,
I'd been expecting all of these players, and this talented team to mold themselves to my system, which... I think, in a way, was diminishing their
ability to excel - at least for the most skilled players - to really express themselves and their skillsets. So now, we're retaining our disciplined approach to
each game, but at the same time these guys need to make plays and they can't be afraid of making mistakes and they're... just too good. I needed
to learn to allow them to play their way while remaining in my system, and that's opened the door for them also breaking games open with their skill.
IM: You said that you and the General Manager had had discussions about this. What sorts of discussions were these? Has the relationship between
you and Bob Lawblaw become more challenging after missing the playoffs last year and the high expectations for the team this year?
Cameron: We both want to win. We're both passionate about hockey. As long as discussions we have are aimed at that then it's hard to complain.
I refuse to be distracted from the main thing. We've got to win hockey games, and we've started doing that so everyone's happy. Winning is the thing
we're here to do.
IM: The team has recently made a trade to acquire Ryan Murray from Columbus with Travis Hamonic going the other way. How does this affect your
plans as a coach, and was this something that Bob talked with you about first?
Cameron: My job is to coach, and the GM isn't required to run everything by me before making trades. That said, Bob had let me and Travis know that
things were happening, and that there was a possibility that he might be moved, so we did our best to be prepared for it. It's tough to lose Travis. He
was a good kid, and a great hockey player, but we're confident that Ryan Murray is going to come in a quickly become a big part of our team as well.
And Kevin Connauton will feature in our plans as well over the length of the season.
IM: Many are surprised that Connauton was acquired when Oskari Manninen is having such an impressive season in Binghamton leading the team in
points as a defenseman. What is your response to that?
Cameron: Well, we know a little bit about a defenseman leading the team in points here in Ottawa. But, yes, Oskari looks ready to be on an NHL roster,
but it's not looking like that will be here in Ottawa anytime soon. There are just too many players ahead of him at the moment, and because of his contract
flexibility; it's just best for him to remain where he is. But who knows what the future holds.*
IM: The team is presently in a playoff spot, and your record is starting to look better and better, but against the best teams in the league you seem to be
a little snake bitten. Boston in particular seems to have your number. Does this concern you look towards the future?
Cameron: Wins and losses are success and failure from a franchise's perspective. But as a coach, you have to look at performances because that's the true indicator
of where your team is at, and where they're headed. Our record has improved because we're playing well. We're playing better than the opposition. Even in our
most recent loss, the score was lopsided, but the score simply didn't reflect how the game was played as a whole. This is how we process things and I believe in it.
I know we can beat the good teams on any given night. We just need to limit our breakdowns and keep doing what we're doing. And it will come... eventually.
IM: Thanks, Dave.
Cameron: Thank you.
-End-
*Because they're evil.
*After this interview, it was reported that Oskari Manninen had been traded to the Nashville Predators.
Sitting down with Ian Medes of TSN, Dave Cameron, third year coach of the Ottawa Senators, seemed to be in a somewhat positive mood despite
his team's most recent game, a lopsided defeat to the aptly named New Jersey Devils.* The Senators were a team which many in the off season thought
would be one of the best teams in the league in 2016-2017, but after starting the year with only 3 wins in the first 9 games this roster full of highly coveted
players started to look a little like fools gold.
Ian Mendes: I'm sure you're still processing things that have happened while at the same time dealing with the games ahead and finding ways to improve, but looking
back, what do you think contributed to your team's difficult start?
Cameron: Well, it's not just one thing, right? It's learning a new system. It's building chemistry with new line-mates, and even figuring out how to
use all of these new guys together. So, I think there were growing pains for all of us as a group, and once we figured it out we were able to begin
taking positive steps. We played some tough teams in the first 10 games as well, and really there are no easy games in the iNHL. But mostly, I
think it was just us figuring out how to gel as a team.
IM: Since those first 9 games, your team has been on a bit of a tear, going 10-3-0. Do you attribute that all to chemistry and players learning your
system, or is it something else?
Cameron: Well, it's that, and it's players going through the ebbs and flows of excelling and struggling at different times, and also - you know - we
as a coaching team had to figure out how to use these players in the best way possible. GM Lawblaw, and I had some hard discussions after that difficult
start, and it put me in a position to really grow as a coach, I think. This roster that we have right now is different from any roster on any team I've
ever coached. Any team would love to have an Offensive defenceman like Karlsson or Vatanen, let alone having both. And I realized that at first,
I'd been expecting all of these players, and this talented team to mold themselves to my system, which... I think, in a way, was diminishing their
ability to excel - at least for the most skilled players - to really express themselves and their skillsets. So now, we're retaining our disciplined approach to
each game, but at the same time these guys need to make plays and they can't be afraid of making mistakes and they're... just too good. I needed
to learn to allow them to play their way while remaining in my system, and that's opened the door for them also breaking games open with their skill.
IM: You said that you and the General Manager had had discussions about this. What sorts of discussions were these? Has the relationship between
you and Bob Lawblaw become more challenging after missing the playoffs last year and the high expectations for the team this year?
Cameron: We both want to win. We're both passionate about hockey. As long as discussions we have are aimed at that then it's hard to complain.
I refuse to be distracted from the main thing. We've got to win hockey games, and we've started doing that so everyone's happy. Winning is the thing
we're here to do.
IM: The team has recently made a trade to acquire Ryan Murray from Columbus with Travis Hamonic going the other way. How does this affect your
plans as a coach, and was this something that Bob talked with you about first?
Cameron: My job is to coach, and the GM isn't required to run everything by me before making trades. That said, Bob had let me and Travis know that
things were happening, and that there was a possibility that he might be moved, so we did our best to be prepared for it. It's tough to lose Travis. He
was a good kid, and a great hockey player, but we're confident that Ryan Murray is going to come in a quickly become a big part of our team as well.
And Kevin Connauton will feature in our plans as well over the length of the season.
IM: Many are surprised that Connauton was acquired when Oskari Manninen is having such an impressive season in Binghamton leading the team in
points as a defenseman. What is your response to that?
Cameron: Well, we know a little bit about a defenseman leading the team in points here in Ottawa. But, yes, Oskari looks ready to be on an NHL roster,
but it's not looking like that will be here in Ottawa anytime soon. There are just too many players ahead of him at the moment, and because of his contract
flexibility; it's just best for him to remain where he is. But who knows what the future holds.*
IM: The team is presently in a playoff spot, and your record is starting to look better and better, but against the best teams in the league you seem to be
a little snake bitten. Boston in particular seems to have your number. Does this concern you look towards the future?
Cameron: Wins and losses are success and failure from a franchise's perspective. But as a coach, you have to look at performances because that's the true indicator
of where your team is at, and where they're headed. Our record has improved because we're playing well. We're playing better than the opposition. Even in our
most recent loss, the score was lopsided, but the score simply didn't reflect how the game was played as a whole. This is how we process things and I believe in it.
I know we can beat the good teams on any given night. We just need to limit our breakdowns and keep doing what we're doing. And it will come... eventually.
IM: Thanks, Dave.
Cameron: Thank you.
-End-
*Because they're evil.
*After this interview, it was reported that Oskari Manninen had been traded to the Nashville Predators.