Steve Ott was the last free agent the Detroit Red Wings opted to sign last summer and there were certainly some curious reactions to the decision to bring the veteran forward into the fold, considering that the Red Wings were already top-heavy with bottom-six forwards.
Those odd stares have long since turned to nods of acknowledgement. In a season of disappointment in this self-proclaimed Hockeytown, Ott has proven to be one of the few pleasant surprises for Detroit.
Ott has won over the Wings’ coaching staff, his teammates and ultimately the team’s fans with his work ethic, ability to agitate the opposition, willingness to stand up for his teammates and his infectious positive energy.
“He’s exactly what I was told he was,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s excellent in the locker room, he’s able to be part of a leadership group that holds players accountable but in the right way.
“He does all the little things on the ice. He’s very accountable defensively, he’s got poise under pressure and he brings a physicality to the game.
“I can’t say enough good things about the way he’s played.… That sentiment is echoed by the players who suit up alongside Ott each night.
“He’s a great player,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “He’s been huge for us off the ice, on the ice.
“Every time he gets the chance to play he’s bringing something that we don’t have.…
It’s the only way Ott has known to play the game during his 14 NHL seasons, the vast majority of those campaigns performing as a a Red Wings antagonist.
“Personally that’s my job,… Ott said of bringing energy out between the boards. “I’m brought in here to do that. I’ve kind of done that my whole career. That’s how I play.…
Whether that’s by delivering a big hit, picking a fight with the other team’s tough guy, winning a big faceoff or helping to kill off penalties, those are all elements Ott brings to the ice.
“All of us have to play your role and when you play your role you hope you draw other guys into the competition as well,… Ott said. “Especially being physical, that’s something that maybe drags some of the other teammates in there. We all feed off each other.
“Abby’s(Justin Abdelkader) running around hitting guys and it drags myself into it. If I hit guys, it might get Glenny (Luke Glendening) and (Riley) Sheahan, the other hitters involved.
“You go down the list, you’re physical together but you’re playing the right way and you have success, I think it shows the team the right way to play.…
Zetterberg admits that Ott often delivers an element foreign to Detroit’s game in recent years.
“We’ve been missing a guy like that and we’re glad to have him,… Zetterberg said.
But for how much longer will they have him? That’s the question of the moment.
Sliding further away from the playoffs, the Wings made their first deal Friday, shipping forward Tomas Jurco to Chicago for a draft pick.
Ott’s veteran presence and agitating style will also make him an appealing addition for a contender, and since he’s an unrestricted free agent, a team would not be beholden to him beyond the current campaign.
It’s a reality that Ott knows is out there but until it is, his attitude is that it isn’t, and he’s got work to do for the Wings in the meantime.
“We’ve gotta control what we can control and that’s continue to come in here every single day,… Ott said. “You put the naysayers aside. You can’t listen to white noise that’s out there.
“We know what’s at stake for this organization and the heritage of this hockey club, and obviously we’re trying to play hard for that every single night.
“We’re not happy with the position we’re in right now.…
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