Since being selected in the second round (39th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators, Zack Ostapchuk has continued to progress in his professional career, making notable strides within the organization.
Through eight games this season with the Belleville Senators, the 6-foot-4 centreman has notched seven points, building on a strong rookie campaign where he tallied 17 goals across 69 games.
Since turning professional last fall, the 21-year-old has appeared in 13 NHL games with Ottawa, including six earlier this year.
Reflecting on his start this season and his recent recall to Ottawa, he expressed the positive impact the opportunity had on his confidence.
"I think it’s been an okay start for me. Getting the call was a huge confidence boost for me," he said. "I’m back down here to work on some things, and I’m excited to get going again."
Ostapchuk highlighted his strengths and some areas for further development identified by the Senators' management team.
"They like my speed. They like my competitiveness," he said. “I think they want a lot of little details, wall work, faceoffs, battling for loose pucks stuff like that. I think I got a lot of the big things covered. It’s just those small little details that’ll get me there."
For Ostapchuk, his time in the NHL has been invaluable, giving him a clear understanding of the adjustments he needs to make.
"I think just seeing what I need to do at that level and then just working on that stuff down here," he said. "I know it’s a long way to go for me. But just getting up there and seeing how guys play and how they prepare, and bringing that down here."
Having spent most of his junior career with the Vancouver Giants, Ostapchuk had the chance to observe Ottawa’s new head coach, Travis Green, when he was behind the bench with the Vancouver Canucks.
"I watched him with the Canucks. Obviously, the guys play hard for him, and I saw that when I went up there," Ostapchuk said. "He likes his guys to play hard, and he’s a really good motivator. I think it’s pretty easy to play hard for that guy."
In Belleville, Ostapchuk has embraced a leadership role. Despite being a sophomore in the AHL, he was recently named an alternate captain, joining a leadership group that includes captain Garrett Pilon, defencemen Maxence Guenette, Donovan Sebrango, and Jeremy Davies.
"A huge honour. I want to come and lead by example," he said. "I think I’ve earned the respect of the guys in the room, and obviously, I know we have a big collective group of leaders here, so I got a lot of help too."
With Belleville currently holding a 6-2-0-4 record, Ostapchuk credits the team’s versatility for their early success.
"We have a very versatile lineup. I mean, every guy up front can play on any line and make an impact," he said. "It doesn’t really matter who I’m playing with. Every guy has their advantages, right? So just having that versatility through our lineup, I think is huge for us."
Ostapchuk also emphasized the importance of his adaptability, something he’s worked on throughout his career.
"I’ve always focused on being able to play all three positions up front, I think it helps me, whether sliding up and down the lineup too," he said. "I don’t always have to play center; if someone is hot in the faceoff dot, I could slide over to the wing. So it’s something I’ve always kind of taken pride in."
Determined to make the most of his time in Belleville, Ostapchuk is focused on gaining valuable ice time and refining his game.
"I think obviously the more minutes you play, the more into the game you are, and obviously you get your puck touches. I think that helps," he said. "I really got to focus on my PK, because I think that’s what I’ll be at the next level. But, getting power play touches down here is nice."
With a bright future ahead, Ostapchuk is honing the skills that could make him a regular in Ottawa. For now, he’s committed to his development in Belleville, where his leadership, versatility, and determination are building a solid foundation for a promising career.
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