Now that Kyle Turris has moved on from the Senators, he’ll certainly missed by his former teammates and the Ottawa community.
On the ice, Turris was your prototypical two-way centre — defensively conscious with an ability to contribute offensively. Acquired from the Coyotes in Dec. 2011, Turris compiled three 20-plus goal campaigns with the Sens, including last season's career-high of 27.
The New Westminster, B.C., native garnered 274 points in 407 games with the Senators and will be remembered for his clutch postseason performances. Turris leaves for Nashville as the Senators' franchise leader in playoff overtime markers with three.
Off the ice, Turris and his wife Julie were entrenched in the Ottawa community. Their work with the Capital City Condors, a group of young hockey players with developmental disabilities, was exemplary. After scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 5 of the Senators' second-round series against the New York Rangers last season, Turris quickly changed clothes and headed directly to the Condors' postseason hockey banquet.
Thanks for always making time for the things that matter most. We’ll miss you @kyleturris #community You’re getting a good one @PredsNHL pic.twitter.com/epdbwdhY6Z
— Sens Foundation (@sensfoundation) November 6, 2017
Kyle and Julie would often show up unannounced at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and were supporters of the Ottawa Humane Society.
“It’s sad to see Turry go. He put in a lot of effort to be where we are today, not only as a player, but as a community leader. His family did a lot of good things,” said Ottawa captain Erik Karlsson. “He had a lot of impact around the team that didn’t involve hockey. We are going to miss him greatly there.”
Derick Brassard was only a teammate of Turris' for a little over a year, but knows professional hockey is a tough business that sometimes sees people move on.
“We lost a great player and great person in Kyle. It’s too bad to see him go. It’s a business side of the game that we can’t control,” added Brassard. “It was a probably a distraction for Kyle with his contract (situation). Now he can finally settle in Nashville and move on in his career.”
"Hockey can be a “s****y business,” said one NHL executive Saturday to Sporting News. When one player leaves another takes his place, and in the Senators' case Matt Duchene moves to an excited dressing room.
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Craig Anderson was Duchene’s teammate in Colorado during the Ottawa newcomer's rookie season in 2009-10. “I had him as a first-year player. He had lots of energy, skill. He surprised all of us with his capabilities,” said the Senators goalie.
Brassard and Mark Stone also played alongside Duchene in the past, winning gold at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. Stone was impressed with Duchene’s play.
“He’s a star player. We’re happy to have him," said Stone. "We know he’s going to be dynamic for us, the rest of the way. He’s fast, plays with a lot of skill. Matt is one of the best I’ve seen at protecting the puck down low. He wins a lot of pucks for his linemates.”