This could be
Duncan Siemens' last chance to make it to the NHL, at least with the Avalanche, and he knows it.
A first-round pick (No. 11) in 2011, the 6-3, 210-pound defenseman's progress has been slowed by injuries and inconsistent play. He's played in 46, 54 and 53 games his first three seasons in the AHL, and his lone NHL appearance came in the 2014-15 season finale against Chicago.
"I think this year is a critical year, it needs to be a breakthrough year for me," Siemens told me Friday following the Avalanche's first training camp sessions. "With all the changes here, there's a good opportunity. New coaching staff, and there's a chance to make a new first impression. I need to take advantage of that."
Here's the
CAMP ROSTER.
Siemens, who became a restricted free agent July 1, signed a one-year qualifying offer while
Patrick Roy was still the coach. That changed last month when Roy resigned and was replaced by
Jared Bednar.
"Any time there's a bunch of new staff around it gives you a fresh opportunity," Siemens said, referring to Bednar and assistant coach
Nolan Pratt. "There's familiarity, too, some people who've been here as long as I have."
It's been a tough go for Siemens, who was selected nine spots after
Gabriel Landeskog in 2011.
"Transitioning my game from junior to pro, there's always some adjustments I need to make," he said. "Unfortunately, I've had my fair share of injuries, bad luck injuries. I go out there and play hard and stick up for my teammates, no matter who it is, and sometimes injuries happen when you play like that."
Siemens sustained hand and spinal injuries last season when he had one goal, six assists and 90 penalty minutes in 53 games with the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL.
"Sometimes it was hard over the years to stay with it," said Siemens, who turned 23 on Sept. 7. "Being a high draft pick, there's high expectations not only with the organization, but I had high expectations for myself. It hasn't quite gone as I had imagined, but it doesn't happen like that for everybody. Everybody has a different path to where they're going.
"Every year I think I've come back and gotten a little bit better. I put a lot of work into some of my weaknesses this summer and I'm really looking forward to playing my game and making it as hard as I can on the coaching staff.
"I've had a few more hiccups than I would have liked. It would have been nice to be a fulltime NHLer by now, but that hasn't happened and I can't change that. All I can change is what I do and how I get there going forward."
Siemens said that playing physical "is the most important part of my game ... my only way to make it to the next level." But he needs to improve his puckhandling skills to reach his goal.
"I think that's been my biggest downfall in my professional career," he said. "I've put in a lot of work with various people, a lot of hands trying to help me. I did much better last year and I continued to work on it again this summer. I'm trying to make sure that's not an issue for me, give myself enough time and space to move the puck up to the forwards."
I asked Siemens if his status as a first-round pick has turned out to be a burden.
"Now that I'm a little bit older and more mature -- I've been around the pro scene for a while -- it doesn't matter," he said. "It's just a number. People will say what they want, I don't listen to it. I have a job to do, and that's all my focus is. Everyone's getting the same look and you have to play your game at the highest level if you want to stay."
Siemens said he never considered looking for an opportunity with another organization.
"The organization's been honest with me," he said. "We have a plan, we've had some hiccups with injuries and things. In my eyes now I have a fresh start here. They have a different coaching staff both in the American League (
Eric Veilleux has replaced
Dean Chynoweth in San Antonio) and in the NHL. I don't think they bring a guy back that they don't see a future with. I'm honored to be part of the Avalanche organization as I was on Day One. I hope I can play plenty games here."
Bednar saw Siemens play some during his time in the AHL, last season while coaching the Lake Erie Monsters, but he wants to see him in camp before making any assessments.
"I haven't seen him that much," Bednar said. "I'd rather reserve my opinion on that. I want to watch these guys in training camp and then my expectations ... that goes for returning players, new, young guys, guys that were in San Antonio. I'm not locking them into any sort of position or line or how much ice time they're going to get. Our staff will evaluate them and see what they earn and what they deserve."
*****
Bednar is finally running his first NHL training camp after spending the past 14 seasons coaching in the minors, six as a head coach.
"I'm excited, our whole staff (is) really, and the players, you can see it's been a long summer," he said. "There's a certain level of excitement that comes with every training camp. Everyone is starting fresh and especially with the new coach. It's no different for me. It's exciting to get to know some new players and talk with them. We've been working on our game plan for the last few weeks and now it's time to get on the ice. This is the fun part.
"As an American League coach you're there every year at training camp. You're working and you're coaching NHL players, guys that get sent up and down. I'm certainly cognizant that this was my first one, but at that point I'm just focusing on practice."
*****
Bednar said
Erik Johnson and
Nathan MacKinnon are expected to be in camp and on the ice Monday following their participation in the World Cup of Hockey ...
Jiri Tlusty, who reported to camp on a professional contract, didn't even get on the ice. Bednar said he didn't pass his physical, so he's gone ...
Trent Vogelhuber, signed as a free agent to play in San Antonio, is recovering from an appendectomy.
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