Man.Utd
9-06-05, 5:30 PM
The young Slovak defenceman wants to show the Ottawa Senators he belongs, Ken Warren reports.
Andrej Meszaros has a natural born advantage over other hopefuls attending the Ottawa Senators rookie camp this week.
Meszaros, a well-rounded 19-year-old defenceman from Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia, can hold one-on-one conversations in his native tongue with fellow Slovak Zdeno Chara, runner-up for the Norris Trophy as top NHL defenceman in 2003-04.
"I hope Z will help me," Meszaros said with a wide smile yesterday after the rookies completed their first workout at the Bell Sensplex. "He's such a big, big player, and I want to play in the NHL this year."
Indeed, Meszaros' determination to take the fast track to the big leagues has impressed Senators general manager John Muckler. After being drafted in the first round (23rd overall) in 2004, Meszaros opted to play for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants last season rather than staying with Trencin, his Slovakian men's league team. "I wanted to play in Canada to get used to the game," he said.
"It's faster, and the guys are bigger, too," Meszaros said. "That's why I came here. They wanted for me to be a leader on the team, to dominate on the ice, to be there when it counted."
Although Meszaros spoke little English when he arrived in Vancouver, Giants coach Don Hay was so impressed with his command on the ice that he appointed him an assistant captain. It was a confidence boost that pushed Meszaros to become a leader and one of the WHL's top defencemen. He had 11 goals, 30 assists and 94 penalty minutes in 59 games with Vancouver. Meszaros, who now has no trouble speaking English, also adapted to the culture change with relative ease. Hay, a former NHL head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames, says Meszaros was as solid as any WHL defenceman last year, including Canadian junior team stars Shea Weber and Dion Phaneuf.
"If there's anybody I see that's ready to play (in the NHL this season), it's him," Hay said. "I watched Binghamton in the American Hockey League playoffs last season and I thought he could have stepped in. He does a lot of good things. The biggest thing is how hard he competes. He's physical. He finishes his checks. I think he's really close to playing there. He's strong, he's 6-2 and about 220 pounds and he moves well. I know how big a step it is, especially for a defenceman, but he's a guy who's really close."
At this point, there is an opening for Meszaros on the Senators blue-line.
Chara, Wade Redden, Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov and Brian Pothier, who all played for the Senators in 2003-04, are pretty much guaranteed spots.
However, that leaves two remaining positions, one of which is expected to be filled by a veteran NHL player. Ottawa signed Lance Ward last week, and talks are continuing with former Senator Jason York of Nepean.
If the Senators hold a spot for a rookie, Meszaros is in a battle with Christoph Schubert, the German defenceman who is coming off a strong season with Binghamton.
"What he does in training camp will determine whether he makes the team or not," Muckler said. "He has a lot of things going for him, but there are a lot of things he still has to develop. He shows the potential of being a very good player and he has certainly shown us that he knows what he wants."
Senators fans can receive their first look at Meszaros tonight, when Senators rookies face Toronto Maple Leafs prospects at 8 p.m. at the Corel Centre. Carolina Hurricanes' hopefuls will play the Florida Panthers' up-and-comers at 4:30, also at the Corel Centre
Andrej Meszaros has a natural born advantage over other hopefuls attending the Ottawa Senators rookie camp this week.
Meszaros, a well-rounded 19-year-old defenceman from Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia, can hold one-on-one conversations in his native tongue with fellow Slovak Zdeno Chara, runner-up for the Norris Trophy as top NHL defenceman in 2003-04.
"I hope Z will help me," Meszaros said with a wide smile yesterday after the rookies completed their first workout at the Bell Sensplex. "He's such a big, big player, and I want to play in the NHL this year."
Indeed, Meszaros' determination to take the fast track to the big leagues has impressed Senators general manager John Muckler. After being drafted in the first round (23rd overall) in 2004, Meszaros opted to play for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants last season rather than staying with Trencin, his Slovakian men's league team. "I wanted to play in Canada to get used to the game," he said.
"It's faster, and the guys are bigger, too," Meszaros said. "That's why I came here. They wanted for me to be a leader on the team, to dominate on the ice, to be there when it counted."
Although Meszaros spoke little English when he arrived in Vancouver, Giants coach Don Hay was so impressed with his command on the ice that he appointed him an assistant captain. It was a confidence boost that pushed Meszaros to become a leader and one of the WHL's top defencemen. He had 11 goals, 30 assists and 94 penalty minutes in 59 games with Vancouver. Meszaros, who now has no trouble speaking English, also adapted to the culture change with relative ease. Hay, a former NHL head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames, says Meszaros was as solid as any WHL defenceman last year, including Canadian junior team stars Shea Weber and Dion Phaneuf.
"If there's anybody I see that's ready to play (in the NHL this season), it's him," Hay said. "I watched Binghamton in the American Hockey League playoffs last season and I thought he could have stepped in. He does a lot of good things. The biggest thing is how hard he competes. He's physical. He finishes his checks. I think he's really close to playing there. He's strong, he's 6-2 and about 220 pounds and he moves well. I know how big a step it is, especially for a defenceman, but he's a guy who's really close."
At this point, there is an opening for Meszaros on the Senators blue-line.
Chara, Wade Redden, Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov and Brian Pothier, who all played for the Senators in 2003-04, are pretty much guaranteed spots.
However, that leaves two remaining positions, one of which is expected to be filled by a veteran NHL player. Ottawa signed Lance Ward last week, and talks are continuing with former Senator Jason York of Nepean.
If the Senators hold a spot for a rookie, Meszaros is in a battle with Christoph Schubert, the German defenceman who is coming off a strong season with Binghamton.
"What he does in training camp will determine whether he makes the team or not," Muckler said. "He has a lot of things going for him, but there are a lot of things he still has to develop. He shows the potential of being a very good player and he has certainly shown us that he knows what he wants."
Senators fans can receive their first look at Meszaros tonight, when Senators rookies face Toronto Maple Leafs prospects at 8 p.m. at the Corel Centre. Carolina Hurricanes' hopefuls will play the Florida Panthers' up-and-comers at 4:30, also at the Corel Centre