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When the Senators line up for Game 1 of 82, they will feature as many as six players who weren’t with the club at the start of last season: defenceman Dion Phaneuf, the former Maple Leafs captain, centre Derick Brassard (from the New York Rangers in a trade for Mika Zibanejad), and forwards Phil Varone, Tom Pyatt, Ryan Dzingel and Chris Kelly.

Every Senator, as new as Brassard or as familiar as 15-year man Chris Neil, is as relieved to have training camp over with as they are excited to play real games. Though shorter in duration due to the World Cup of Hockey imposition, this camp may have been the most gruelling the Senators have known. From the first day, Boucher has demanded up-tempo play and a fervent adoption of his “system” and style — fast, attacking hockey, with and without the puck.

In hiring Boucher, the former Tampa Bay Lightning coach who was in the Swiss League most recently, Dorion wanted a coach who could make demands on a team that has only reached the playoffs once in the past three seasons, and that after a miraculous run to get there.

Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News

How all this change will present itself remains to be seen. In theory the Senators are going to use speed and pursuit to improve puck possession.

They also intend to reduce the number of shots against and chances allowed. The way Boucher expressed it Tuesday, the changes in approach are dramatic enough that they have to be implemented in phases, beginning with a tighter defensive posture, especially up the middle in front of the net.