Sokolov eager to take his best shot
Senators prospect eyeing chance at NHL roster spot after improving his skating
Egor Sokolov has had to battle the odds throughout his hockey career.
But as it stands right now, the odds may be in his favour and he could have a job to lose when Ottawa Senators training camp gets underway Sept. 22 at Canadian Tire Centre.
It's true anything can change if general manager Pierre Dorion makes a deal or brings in an unrestricted free agent. But at this point, Sokolov would be part of a group of players that have as good a chance as anybody to make the roster and suit up on opening night, an Oct. 14 home-ice matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The development portion of the Senators' pre-camp wrapped up Monday with coaches Shean Donovan and Jesse Winchester holding a three-on-three. After a day off the ice, the Senators will shift into high gear with the rookie portion of the camp beginning Wednesday to prepare for two rookie games against the Montreal Canadiens that will begin at home Saturday at 4 p.m.
You can be certain Sokolov, 21, is one guy who will get lots of attention. The decision to trade Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden
Knights in the summer has created an opening on the right side. While the Senators continue their search for a veteran winger, if that doesn't happen then Sokolov is one of the players that has an opportunity to make an impact.
While it's not an ideal scenario for the organization, it may be the route Dorion and coach D.J. Smith decide to take.
“I've been working hard and it's awesome to be back,” Sokolov said. “I'm having some fun out there and I'm already trying to establish myself with the work I did over the summer, what I've done and that I've gotten better.”
An overage pick from the QMJHL's Cape Breton Eagles, Sokolov is a nice story. He's the kind of guy that makes you want to cheer for him because of the hard work and dedication its taken to get this far. The Russian forward arrived in Cape Breton in 2017 and was unable to speak English, but was fortunate to room with teammate Drake Batherson, who helped him learn the language and culture.
Passed over in the 2019 draft because scouts didn't think his skating was good enough, Sokolov worked even harder to improve his game and turned some heads. Ottawa chief scout Trent Mann lives in New Brunswick, saw a lot of Sokolov during the QMJHL season and decided to make him a late second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in 2020.
Sokolov has worked hard with Halifax-based skating coach Jill Plandowski to work on his foot speed and, as a result, he had success with 10 goals and 25 points in 35 games with the Senators' AHL affiliate in Belleville last season. Plandowski also works with Batherson and has helped him tremendously.
“You can improve everything in hockey,” said Sokolov. “Before, everybody was talking about my conditioning and my skating but now I can take my summers and work on everything else. In the past, I was just focusing on losing weight and my skating technique but I think it's a pretty good level and spot.
“I was able to work on a lot of things over the summer, but skating and working out is the main thing.”
Sokolov wasn't able to return to Russia because of the pandemic last summer, but did get some time at home this year and ended up on the ice with his brother Max helping him improve his game.
“It was awesome because I hadn't been home in two years,” said Sokolov. “You always say that hockey is everything in life, but family is so important. It kind of gave me a chance to hit that reset button and clear my mind with my parents and my brother. I helped my brother with his game, because he's a goalie, and I was on the ice with him three times a week.
“It was fun to see my family and friends. Being home is always fun and it's great for the head.”
He returned to the Halifax area for the last six weeks of the summer and had the chance to skate with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Batherson. Crosby recently had wrist surgery that will keep him out six weeks, but he participated in all the summer skates.
The first step for Sokolov is these rookie games against the Habs. The second game of the series is scheduled for Monday at the Habs' practice facility in Montreal. It's incumbent on Sokolov to impress in these two games to be ready for the start of camp and then he'll have to take it to another level in the exhibition games.
He isn't trying to put too much pressure on himself and when push comes to shove, he'll likely be in the AHL.
“My mindset is to just try to make the most of (the opportunity),” said Sokolov. “I want to have some fun and compete as much as I can for a job. I worked hard to get better over the summer and I just want to be Egor Sokolov to show them what I can do.”