When a new coach goes behind the bench, players get a new slate to work on. It’s up to those players to take full advantage of a fresh opportunity to solidify their standing within the lineup.
One such player who’s been a beneficiary of a new coach is Ottawa Senators’ forward Parker Kelly.
Known as a tireless worker who plays a physical 200-foot game, the 24-year-old has caught the eyes of interim head coach Jacques Martin and his newly-minted assistant Daniel Alfredsson.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for the native of Camrose, AB.
The undrafted forward appeared in 26 games this season, scoring only one goal and adding three assists while averaging 10:39 of ice time per game with D.J. Smith at the helm. Kelly was a mainstay on the left wing of Smith’s fourth line while becoming a go-to penalty killer.
Due to his ability to play Martin’s system to a tee, Kelly is thriving. Thrust onto the Senators’ third line mainly due to injuries to Mathieu Joseph and Josh Norris of late, Kelly made the most of their absence, impressing his coach – so much so that he kept his third line spot when each returned.
Playing the left side on a line with Norris and Vlad Tarasenko, Kelly tallied the Senators’ lone goal Saturday in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
In fact, Kelly has registered five goals and one assist in 15 games since the coaching change, his best stretch offensively during his 138-game NHL career to date. Best of all the former Western League Prince Albert Raider has averaged 14:22 TOI in those games, an astonishing increase of 3:43.
Martin explained his reasoning to Full Press Hockey to keep Kelly up in the Senators’ lineup, “He’s a hard-working kid. I mean, he brings intensity. He checks well. He understands the game. He may not have the greatest hands but he’s a good example. And then he got the goal and you know, I think he really helps that line. I was actually happy with that line with Tarasenko and Norris, They gave us a balance in lines, giving us three (scoring) lines.”
For Kelly, he’s fortunate to be in the right spot at the right time, “I mean, I’ve had a lot of opportunities. I think it just comes down to bearing down on it, and you know, things are going in right now. But like I’ve said before, just trying to be a good 200-foot player and play the right way. And I think when we play the right way you get rewarded, and the last couple games have been pretty good for that.”
Shane Pinto is slated to make his season debut Sunday in Philadelphia, but with Kelly playing so well, it remains to be seen how the forward units will play out. Expect tweaks over the next few weeks as a new-look roster attempts to find chemistry.
An exciting footnote to Saturday’s game featured the Senator’s Moms in town. The Senators debut their first-ever Mom’s trip this week. And Parker’s Mom, Joanne, and Dad, Kevin, were each in Ottawa to view his goal.
Of his parents attending the game, “Obviously. they haven’t been able to come watch me play too much. But like it was just like their third or fourth time here, so a really special moment. They’ve done a lot for me,” said Kelly.
“I’m looking forward to this road trip with the Moms. I think, you know, my Mom heard how much fun the Dads and the players had last year. And you know, she was hoping there’d be a Mom trip sometime and she got it this year. So I think we’re all really excited to share those memories and create new ones as well. So I think everyone’s really really excited and happy that parents and Moms can come on. … I think she’s just as much as a supporter in my life for hockey as my Dad was. And you know, I owe a lot to both of them. And you know, sometimes Moms can fall behind the shadow a little bit of the Dad, but I think every player here knows how much their Moms mean to them.”
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