The First Captain of the Ottawa Senators is a Great Admirer of the Current One

Laurie Boschman has seen it all in the game of hockey.

Boschman was the first captain in Ottawa Senators history, leading a team that was historically bad in 1992-93. But he was also part of that emerging 1980s dynasty in Edmonton, playing two seasons with the Oilers, when Wayne Gretzky and friends were in their prime.

Laurie Boschman Image credit: Topps 1993 Stadium Club Hockey Card Laurie Boschman Image credit: Topps 1993 Stadium Club Hockey Card

Unfortunately, Boschman missed out on the breakthrough, getting traded to Winnipeg in 1983-84, the year before the Oilers won their first Cup. And his one season as captain in Ottawa would be his final year in the NHL.

All that said, Boschman knows a thing or two about what a good NHL team looks like and what a bad one looks like. So when we ask the 14-year NHL veteran his opinion on the state of the Senators, including their new management team, it carries more weight than most.

“I’m a fan of the hockey club,” Boschman said. “We’ve lived in the community ever since ’92 and we love the city.

“Obviously, we haven’t made the playoffs for seven years now. But we’ve got some good pieces. Obviously, they’re not all working together because we’re down near the bottom of the standings once again.

“When that happens, you need help in every area, from goaltending to defence to forwards. It’s just a matter of ‘What are those pieces, what can you trade away, and what can you get to help the team?

Boschman says he has great confidence in Ottawa’s new ownership and the hockey operations department.

“I’m very excited about the fact that we’ve got new ownership in the community,” Boschman said. “I think Steve Staios, Dave Poulin and Ryan Bowness will do a fine job. Of course, in sports and in that kind of situation, everybody is judged. It’s a performance-based industry. I guess we’ll judge them by how well they do with the moves, manoeuvres, draft picks, and all those kinds of things that are made over time.”

Boschman was a feisty player, who could also provide offence. In his first three seasons in Winnipeg, he averaged 73 points and 218 penalty minutes per season. So it’s little wonder that Boschman, the former captain, is a fan of Brady Tkachuk, the current one. Tkachuk had 74 points this season and finished second in the league in penalty minutes (134).

“I think Brady Tkachuk is just one of those throwback players,” Boschman said. “He’s got three 30-goal seasons and you look at him, that’s the kind of player you need. Just like his brother Matthew. He and the Florida Panthers made that push last year to the finals. (Brady) is a playoff kind of player. He really is.”

While Boschman would probably like to see the Sens add more of that element, he wasn’t about to throw anyone under the bus and suggest whether certain players should be moved out.

“Fortunately, I don’t get paid to make those decisions. So I don’t know who they should trade or those kinds of things.

“In the end, I just want them to do well because they’re such a big part of our community.”