Senators disappointed with Chabot's development camp performance

Thomas Chabot made an impression at development camp, but it wasn't a good one.

The Ottawa Senators' prized defensive prospect drew criticism from assistant general manager Randy Lee after the summer sessions concluded Monday.

"I thought Thomas should have been a bit more intense, I thought Thomas should have dominated,” Lee told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun, adding he felt Chabot had an "average" camp.

"I think Thomas should look at the landscape and see we’ve got six signed defencemen (to NHL contracts)," Lee said. "Thomas and I have talked about it.”

Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot, and Dion Phaneuf are signed to long-term deals, while both Mark Borowiecki and Chris Wideman are locked in for two more seasons. Cody Ceci, a defensive prospect in his own right, is mulling a qualifying offer from the club.

Chabot, the Senators' 18th overall pick in 2015, knows he missed an early opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL.

“I’m their first pick from last year, they expect a lot from me," he said. “I don’t think I did what they expected from me. They only have six defencemen signed, so, for sure, I want to work as hard as I can this summer to work for a spot (next season).”

Senators GM Pierre Dorion said last week that Chabot will have a shot to make the team out of training camp in the fall, but his development camp performance doesn't do him any favors.

“I think he realizes it,” Lee said. “He’s a very special player and he worked so hard last year. I just thought the impact he would have made on this camp would have been a bit more.”

Chabot posted nearly a point per game in his third season with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs, adding 21 points in 17 playoff contests.