Despite his team’s mixed performances this season, Ottawa Senators forward Mathieu Joseph has had a pretty difficult few months to come back strong and increase his record by several points.
The 26-year-old Quebec native, limited to 56 games in the 2022-2023 season due to an ankle injury, is having a good time on offense as he has 15 points in 16 games so far. Last season he was happy with 18 points, including just three goals. In addition, he will not have any difficulties in achieving a personal career peak, unless unforeseen events occur. his highest total – 26 – came in 2018-2019, when he made his National League debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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If his presence in a trio consisting of Claude Giroux and Tim Stützle helps him achieve more, the opportunity to exploit the maximum of his physical capabilities can’t hurt.
“I hate to use this as an excuse, but I haven’t felt good most of the year in terms of skating and the condition of my ankle,” he told the Ottawa Sun newspaper. This robs you of some of your self-confidence. Sometimes there were plays where the puck should have gone into the net, but it didn’t happen.
“Sometimes it’s obvious that you have doubts about yourself. I was not entitled to screening time as before, I was not accompanied by the same trio partners and we did not have the same training. A lot [de choses] come into play, he added. It all depends on time, repetition, confidence and the players you play with. I could have lost contact, that can happen. I’m taking it one day at a time. Hopefully I can improve every day.”
An example to imitate
According to his head coach DJ Smith, Joseph is showing the way forward to his teammates, who certainly need leaders to move up the rankings. Although he is known for his defensive qualities, he still stands out in many ways.
“What we need is his constant attention to detail, his work ethic,” the pilot said. Every evening he makes the most regular effort. He’s a really smart player. [L’an passé]He probably put a lot of pressure on himself when he came to a new organization with a new contract [de quatre ans et de 11,8 millions $]. And don’t forget he was hurt. He must have known the boys and felt comfortable in the locker room.
With a record of .500, the Senators have a home game against the Florida Panthers on Monday night.