Article content continued
“His conditioning needs to be at another level for him to be more consistent at the NHL level,” Mann said. “I know he’s been working with power skating instructor (in Halifax) and maybe just that extra half-step will help him through the neutral zone or helps him get up the ice after making a play on the wall.
JOEY DACCORD, G
The Senators like what they saw from Daccord in his first pro season.
And, down the road they believe he’ll be ready for prime time.
He started last year with the club’s ECHL affiliate in Brampton and then was called up to Belleville when Hogberg was summoned to Ottawa because of an injury to Anders Nilsson.
Last month, Daccord, a restricted free agent, was signed to a three-year deal by Dorion.
The contract will be a two-way deal in the first two years that will pay Daccord, 24, $700,000 in the NHL and $125,000 if he’s with Belleville. The third year is a one-way deal at $800,000, and at that point Daccord should be ready to be the full-time backup or push for the starting job.
“I’m a huge fan of Joey Daccord. I like his confidence and his demeanor in the net,” Mann said. “As a head coach, from the bench, you always want to feel good and have a goalie that has a presence and he does that. The development plan we put in place for him came to fruition.
“As far as starting in the ECHL, where there’s a lot more breakdowns, and it’s a great learning experience for any goalie to play in that league. I think that made him a better goalie. He came up here and got off to a great start. It’s safe to say Joey was a big reason we were in first place when the pandemic hit.”