Boucher signs ELC while Murray is recalled from Belleville
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Tyler Boucher, who was selected 10th overall in July, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sens Tuesday morning.
"Obviously, we're very excited to have signed Tyler today to an entry-level contract," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said.
Boucher has played 17 games with Boston University as a freshman where he had two goals and one assist alongside 34 penalty minutes. However, now that he is signed, the 18-year-old will join the OHL's Ottawa 67s.
He will be assigned on paper to the AHL's Belleville Senators initially but will join the 67s when the OHL resumes play. Boucher tested positive for Covid-19 a few days ago so he is unable to enter Canada until Jan. 6.
"Through the first half of the year, myself and other members of our hockey staff, had conversations with Tyler," Dorion said. "Things weren't going the way he thought the direction should with Boston University."
Boucher spoke with Dorion, and Senators player development coach Shean Donovan, where he relayed that he had considered leaving. In early December, Boucher and his agent communicated that joining the 67s would be the best option moving forward.
"With a coach of the calibre of Dave Cameron, we just felt this was the best route to go," Dorion said. "When you look at a player of Tyler's calibre, and how he plays the game, for us, playing major junior probably fits his type of game more."
The 67s are 12-17-1 this season but had back-to-back 50 win seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
"We know Tyler is the type of player you want when you're playing playoffs games," Dorion said. "We know that Tyler is a player that wants to win. He's a physical force, has a big shot, drives inside [and] he's someone who plays that power forward game you want on your team.
"We're not going to look back at what's happened the last few months but having him join the 67s is something we're really excited about. I think it's going to be beneficial for all parties."
Smith returns to practice
Sens head coach D.J. Smith returned to the ice Tuesday after he was removed from the NHL's Covid-19 protocol list.
Smith was placed in protocol after the team's game in Philadelphia on Dec. 18.
"I was lucky that I didn't deal with some of the major symptoms other people deal with," Smith said, who added that he mainly suffered from a head cold and loss of voice.
With the Sens having its three games before the Holiday break postponed, as well as its games on Dec. 27 and 29, Smith didn't miss any time behind the team's bench.
"It's what we do for a living," Smith said. "It's where you want to be. It's hard to sit still in the middle of the year. I was lucky I didn't have to miss any games. Over the month of December, our team was playing really well. We were in every game, beating some really good teams and we wanted to keep rolling.
"Obviously, this is a real tough situation. It's touch and go every single day but we look forward to getting back playing and getting our groove back."
Video coach Mike King was also removed from the Covid-19 protocol list today. Assistant coach David Payne remains in protocol while it's expected that goaltender Filip Gustavsson will be removed Wednesday.
Murray recalled from Belleville
A month to the day of his assignment to the Belleville Senators, Matt Murray was back with Ottawa today after he was recalled ahead of the team's practice.
However, in the month Murray spent in the AHL, he only played two games, primarily due to a significant Covid-19 outbreak within the Senators' room.
"I got a lot of practice time in but unfortunately not much game time which is what I really wanted," Murray said. "That part of the plan didn't really pan out."
Murray made 30 saves on Dec. 4 in a 3-1 loss to Manitoba but collected the win on Dec. 12 after he stopped 26 shots in a 3-2 win over Bridgeport.
"I was looking at it as a way to keep building on positives and try to keep hardening up my game and that's what I feel like I did," Murray said.
Working alongside Belleville goaltending coach Justin Peters, who he has known since he was a teenager, was advantageous too.
"I know him really well," Murray said. "That made the transition pretty seamless. We had a blast and had a lot of really long, good talks, about a lot of things, goaltending included. He was awesome to work with and it was really just a pleasure to work with him.
"I can't say enough good things about him as a coach and as a person. I'm really thankful I got to spend that time with him."
