Improved performance by Sanderson gives Senators reason for optimism

OTTAWA — Jake Sanderson is well aware he’s not a finished product.

At age 22, the third-year Ottawa Senators defenceman knows he has plenty to learn.

“I think I can definitely be better,” Sanderson said about his play this season.

Games like Wednesday’s show why Sanderson is an important part of the team going forward.

In Ottawa’s 5-1 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks, Sanderson was outstanding, demonstrating the player he can be. The fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Sanderson was breaking up transition opportunities, quarterbacking the power play, and contributing at both ends of the ice.

That type of performance was supposed to be a constant for Sanderson, who is in the first year of his eight-year, $64-million deal. However, it’s been a bumpy season for Sanderson, who has the worst plus-minus on the team at -14.

“I think the past few games, I really just kept it simple and haven’t really done anything flashy. Haven’t really made any mistakes. I think right now, I like where it’s at, but I don’t want to press too much right now,” Sanderson said.

Sanderson gives a brutally honest assessment of his current level of confidence.

“Average. It’s not low, it’s not high right now,” said Sanderson. “I’d obviously like it to be a little higher. But I think confidence … comes from practice as well, getting more reps but at the same time … you’d like to see it pay off in games a little bit.”

One new wrinkle this season has been quarterbacking the first-unit power play. It has been an adjustment for the blueliner.

“I think I can definitely keep shooting it more, especially on the power play,” said Sanderson. “I think I’m being a little too passive and just moving the puck. I think whenever you’re shooting it from up top, you’re always a threat.”

During an early five-on-three Wednesday, Sanderson launched a rocket of a slapshot but was denied by John Gibson’s glove. Later, on the power play he made a quick play at the top of the blueline to find Tim Stutzle, leading to a tic-tac-toe passing play finished off by Drake Batherson to give the Senators a 2-0 lead.

Against the Ducks, the Senators went three-for-five on the power play in part because of Sanderson’s orchestration. The Senators have the fourth-best power play in the league with Sanderson at the helm. He has 12 power-play points through 28 games, five points shy of his career high of 17.

However, offence isn’t the main priority for Sanderson, who told Sportsnet earlier this season how he didn’t believe he’d ever win a Norris Trophy because he wouldn’t put up enough points.

“I feel like five-on-five, I haven’t done a lot of offence,” said Sanderson. “And I think that’s honestly for me, I’m getting a lot of looks on the power play, and then when it goes back to five-on-five, I want to defend.”

But Sanderson’s biggest issue has been five-on-five, where he has three points. He plays the toughest matchups, but his underlying metrics have not been as good as the previous season.

Sanderson acknowledges his struggles.

“I think there’s just been a few games during the season so far where I felt I wasn’t making the right reads and that’s on me,” said Sanderson. “So yeah, I’m changing a few things, like watching more video and just keeping it simple, moving pucks north, not trying to complicate it too much.”

On Wednesday the mistakes were limited, but not eliminated. In the first period, he threw the puck at an Anaheim player on a clearing attempt, which led to a scoring chance.

What hasn’t helped Sanderson has been the rotation of Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic on his right side. For the time being, with Zub “out for a while” with an injury, it will be Hamonic and Sanderson paired together. Hamonic and Sanderson, statistically, have been Ottawa’s worst pairing all season.

Head coach Travis Green explained his rationale for keeping the two together this way:

“I like the way (Tyler) Kleven and JBD (Jacob Bernard-Docker) are playing quite honestly,” said Green. “I know from the outside it sometimes looks easier than reality and Sanderson plays against different competition than Kleven and JBD do.”

The pairing of Sanderson and Hamonic was excellent on Wednesday, outshooting Anaheim 12-8 at five-on-five.

Sanderson’s defensive prowess was on display in the second period when he intercepted an Anaheim two-on-one, cross-seam pass after a bad Hamonic pinch.

Despite the statistical struggles, Sanderson thinks they can be an effective duo.

“Hamonic and I played together a lot the past few years and give credit to him,” said Sanderson. “This is the best I’ve seen him play in the three years I’ve been here with him. He makes it really easy on me.”

Sanderson, who leads the Senators defence corps in ice-time on the penalty kill, was exceptional in that department on Wednesday alongside Hamonic, with the duo helping Ottawa kill all five penalties.

In psychology, there is a term for young people learning about themselves as young adults: emerging adulthood. In Sanderson’s case, he’s realizing how to manage expectations and potential.

Sanderson experienced disappointment earlier this month when he was not selected to Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“To be completely honest, I felt like I haven’t played well enough this season to make that team,” Sanderson said. “I’m frustrated with myself. That’s it, nothing else. So, it’s a bummer for sure. I feel like I personally let an opportunity slip away, and I’m going to work hard and make sure that doesn’t happen again in the future.”

The Senators are in desperate need of Sanderson rediscovering his elite play. Everything is there for Sanderson to become one of the better defencemen in the NHL: it’s all in his hands to become that player.

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