Senators' Cowen: 'It sucks' to be healthy scratch
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen watched from the press box as his team defeated the Florida Panthers 1-0 on Tuesday, and he didn't like the view.
"It sucks," Cowen told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen, adding: "I've just got to be better."
Cowen saw his ice-time tumble from 17:22 in the season opener against the Nashville Predators, to 13:37 in the second game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning because he was on the ice for two even-strength goals against in the third period of the 3-2 loss to the Preds.
The 23-year-old was a non-factor against the Lightning, and Senators coach Paul MacLean wants him to simplify his game.
“(Cowen) has struggled with the puck, reading where the next pass is going,” said MacLean. “We’re not totally disappointed with his physical play and his defensive play has been better (than last season), but other guys have played better. We have seven defencemen and we need to play the six best guys.”
MacLean believes Cowen has a bright future in the league, but still has a lot to learn. He wants Cowen to be upset about being scratched, as long as the young blue-liner channels those emotions into working to become a better player.
Cowen's loss is a gain for Mark Borowiecki, who is enjoying some opportunities with Erik Karlsson on Ottawa's top pairing. Borowiecki isn't likely to become a fixture next to the Senators captain, but with Marc Method still weeks away from returning and Cowen struggling, he appears to be MacLean's best option.
Ottawa selected Cowen ninth overall in 2009. He has 33 points in 160 career games.