Nick Paul confident in playing in Ottawa this season

Former North Bay Battalion forward Nick Paul says this is a big year for him as he tries to crack the Ottawa Senators lineup.

“This is my year. This summer, I’ve worked really hard. I’m faster, I’m stronger and won the fitness testing. I’m here to prove I’m an NHL player,” he says.

He says he’s quite familiar with the team’s head coach D.J. Smith who coached Oshawa during Paul’s Battalion days.

The teams met in back to back years in the OHL Eastern Conference Final.

Paul says they have a good mix of players and may surprise some people.

“A lot of people have pegged us at being at the bottom of the standings but with our work ethic and a lot of young talent we’re going to surprise some people,” Paul says.

Paul hopes to spend this entire season with the Ottawa Senators.

Last season, he played 20 games with Ottawa and another 43 with Belleville, the team’s AHL affiliate.

(photo by Aaron Bell OHL Images)