It may be this year’s NHL feel good story.
To start his fourth pro season, deep draft pick Chris Wideman(45) made Ottawa Senators‘ 2015/2016 opening night roster.
In his third year with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators he was voted outstanding AHL defenseman and posted career high numbers with 75 games, 17 goals, his 42 assists tied the same mark from the previous year and 61 points were all a new best, and led the league.
He also had a +9 rating and a pretty huge 229 shots on net with a slight uptick 116 minutes in penalties, including one fight.
It was the kind of year that earned him a second one-year extension to stay with the only club he’s known.
He came in ready, had a strong training camp and earned his spot.
So far in two NHL games he skated 18 shifts for 15 minutes of ice time.
He’s yet to register a point but has a +2 rating with 6 shots on net in a pair of losses, one in the shootout.
The now 25-year old blue liner may have not seen the last of the minors but it’s also a risk the parent team might not be willing to risk.
Chris Wideman (6) Binghamton Senators
Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#100 overall), defenseman Chris Wideman(6) started his pro career in the ECHL with affiliate Elmira Jackals.
It only took him less than a few weeks and games (posting 4 assists) to earn his first recall to Binghamton Senators in the AHL.
Other than one reassignment for an overnight and a game, in which he got his fifth helper, he was back up with the B-Sens for the remainder of his rookie season and playoffs.
In 60 games, the 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner (those numbers seem a tad inflated) scored a pair of goals and 16 assists with a +8 rating. He added a goal and 2 assists in three Calder Cup Playoff contests, tying him for the lead in postseason scoring, while he was second on the team for assists in the regular season.
The 23-year old signed a two-year entry level deal that makes him a restricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season.
He may seem small out there but he plays responsibly and showed the potential to have an offensive upside in his first campaign and throughout four years at Miami University.
Despite the abundance of good defensive specialists in the system, it would be no surprise to see him score an NHL recall.