At 24, Eskild Bakke-Olsen was the oldest player at Senators rookie camp on Friday. But he’s not taking the assignment as a slight.
Bakke-Olsen (the first half of his last name is pronounced Bach, like the German composer) arrived in Ottawa a week ago Friday — the first time he’d ever set foot in North America. He’s taken the time since to start getting used to the smaller ice surfaces on this side of the pond.
“It's been a cool experience,” said Bakke-Olsen, who signed a one-year, $910,000 entry-level contract with the Senators in June after helping Team Norway win a bronze medal at the World Championships.
“It's been a great week trying to meet a lot of new guys. So, it's been good and trying to just settle in… It’s been a long time since I played in the small rink, so it’s going to be a little bit different, but it’s going to be cool.”
Bakke-Olsen is the same age as Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Tyler Kleven, and Stephen Halliday. But like Halliday, who made his NHL debut last season, he was passed over in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft — and then he went unselected as an over-ager.
His development curve is a unique one, coming from a country that has produced only 10 NHLers ever. That’s why his story is still one to celebrate, as he’s already beaten the odds just by signing a pro contract overseas.
“Of course, everyone's dream is to go to the NHL. But when you come from Norway, it's not that realistic, there’s not that many [players] who have played here,” said Bakke-Olsen.
“But it's always the dream… some setbacks and some good years, and now we're here.”
Bakke-Olsen finished second on his SHL team, Linköping HC, in scoring last season, with 11 goals and 21 assists in 51 games. He’d heard some interest from NHL teams over the last two seasons, but it became stronger after that strong season, his first in Sweden’s top tier.
The interest became a reality after the World Championship run, when he put up five points in 10 games en route to that bronze medal, the first medal in the country’s history.
“[The Senators said they liked] my hockey sense, and that I’m good in both ends. So, like, a big guy that can do both, with a good season last year, they saw good hockey IQ, and I hope they also saw that I love playing hockey,” said the 6-foot-2 forward.
Bakke-Olsen was really enjoying playing hockey on May 31, during the bronze medal game against Canada at Swiss Life Arena in Zürich, Switzerland. The Norwegians fought for a 3-2 overtime victory against the Canadians, ultimately winning their first medal in any top-flight hockey competition ever.
“When we scored that goal, it went black, actually. It was it was one of my greatest hockey memories for sure, and also for Norway, we've never been at that at that level and competing there, so it's something you will never forget, and seeing the whole country coming together as they never had before,” said Bakke-Olsen.
“The year before we were one goal from getting relegated, and last year we got bronze. So Norwegian hockey is going upwards, and that's cool to see.”
Bakke-Olsen’s stock is also rising. He knows that starting the season in the AHL is a possibility — and he knows that without a contract for next season, he must prove himself.
“I just know that I'm going to come here and prove myself, and show what I'm capable of. If I start down in the AHL, I'm fine with that,” said Bakke-Olsen.
“But the ultimate goal is, of course, to make the NHL. But if it's if it's the first game or the last game [of the season], it doesn't matter, because my [main] goal is to come here and play.”
Bakke-Olsen’s teammates last season with Linköping include former NHLers Jakub Vrana, Nick Shore, Christoffer Ehn, Oscar Fantenberg, and Ty Rattie. It was helpful for the Norwegian to measure his game against those players.
“You feel like you're not that far from the highest level, and when you start practicing with those guys, you [quickly] get to their level, maybe [not] their smartness, but I'm pretty smart too,” Bakke-Olsen explained.
“I think it’s good to have practiced with those guys, so I know what’s waiting over here.”
Belleville Senators head coach Andrew Campbell, who led Friday’s skate at Canadian Tire Centre, was excited to see Bakke-Olsen take the ice.
“He's an older player… just reliable. He can take face-offs. He can play on both sides of the puck. So, if he does end up in Belleville, it'll be a huge boost for us, and he'll be a really good player for us,” said Campbell.
“And hopefully, he makes a good impression here in Ottawa these next couple weeks, and gets to spend some time in the NHL as well… I’m really excited to see him here this weekend and wherever he ends up.”
Bakke-Olsen says that his friends and family back home are very happy for him, and eagerly waiting to see him play, wherever he begins the season.
“This is an opportunity that not many Norwegians get, so it’s going to be a cool experience either way, and an adventure,” said Bakke-Olsen.
“I was really looking forward to [North America], because you see it on TV and stuff, and it's it's way bigger. And I come from a small town back home in Norway, so it was just cool to experience all the usual Canadian and American stuff, and see the bigger cities and stuff, that was really cool.”
