Mark Borowiecki is pretty much as tough as they come.

One time, the Senators’ defenseman dislocated a rib and popped it back in to place himself. Another time, Borowiecki suffered a 48-stitch leg laceration on an exposed outlet while playing pregame soccer. And he played through a torn labrum in his left shoulder late last season.

However, nothing pains Borowiecki more than missing most of Ottawa’s extended run to the Eastern Conference Final this past spring after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the second game of the opening round series against the Bruins.

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“You go through the whole season and to not get a chance to play (throughout the playoffs), it’s tough,” Borowiecki told Sporting News Canada after a recent workout in Ottawa.

“I think it’s harder watching. When you’re playing, you’re in your own little bubble, you see a lot going on. It makes you pretty anxious (not to play).”

While the post-season may have been excruciating to sit through, the good news for Borowiecki is the rugged defenseman is finally feeling better physically.

“I’ve been going full tilt for a little bit now, feeling pretty good,” said the 28-year-old Borowiecki. “It’s a long injury. It nags for sure. I’ve never had one before. Some days are a little cranky after. I don’t feel it when I’m on the ice. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Concentrating on getting healthy, the Senators’ 2008 fifth-rounder almost forgot about the Expansion Draft. Living his entire life a few minutes away from the Canadian Tire Centre, Borowiecki didn’t want to think about the notion of possibly becoming a Golden Knight.

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“To be honest, it kind of snuck up,” Borowiecki told Sporting News Canada. “I remembered the Friday before. I kind of looked at my wife (Tara) and said the Draft is next Wednesday,” Borowiecki told Sporting News Canada.

“I heard a few rumblings. I tried to pay some attention to it, had a couple of quick chats with my agent. I’m happy with the way it worked out for me. Obviously, you feel for a guy like Meth, (Marc Methot), with what happened. But, it’s the nature of the business and we understand that.”

Even with the departure of Methot to the Stars via Vegas, competition for a job on the Senators blue line will be fierce. Unrestricted free agent Johnny Oduya recently joined the fold as Methot’s de facto replacement – giving the team seven d-men on one-way deals.

Barring a late-summer trade, CHL Defenseman of the Year Thomas Chabot may have to wait a tad longer to earn a full-time spot; and Ben Harpur, who had a cup of coffee this past season and made his playoff debut in the spring, is also vying for a position.

If Senators GM Pierre Dorion is to make a move, allowing Chabot to open the campaign with the big club, Borowiecki doesn’t appear concerned.

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The NHL’s 2016-17 leader in penalty minutes with 154, Borowiecki plays a physical game, defending himself and teammates when called upon. The majority of “Borocop’s” 13 fighting majors resulted after delivering a clean, hard hit.

“I am pretty comfortable in my role,” stated Borowiecki. “There’s not a lot of guys who like to play the way I do. That’s kind of the one fortunate thing for me. There are teams who still want guys like that.”

The former Smiths Falls Bear’s contract expires at the conclusion of next season.

Borowiecki would like nothing better than to remain in his hometown, and remain healthy enough to take part in another extended playoff run by the Senators.