Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd year right wing Curtis Lazar(27) was sent to the minors for the first time in his pro career, in which he’s already played 143 NHL games through two seasons scoring 6 goals twice and a new high 14 assists and 20 points as a sophomore skater.
He’s still eligible to be reassigned without clearing waivers until he appears in 10 more big league contests, so after a bout of mono that kept him out of training camp a decision was made to ship him off to the farm to get him ready with lots of ice time and many different game situations.
In 9 AHL games with Binghamton Senators he has 2 goals and is a 0 rating, which doesn’t seem like a lot but more than affecting the score sheet, he’s out there 5-on-5, on power plays and killing penalties.
The former 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#17 overall) had a very storied 3-year run in junior hockey with Edmonton Oil Kings, where he won the 2012 and 2014 WHL Championships, the 2013 CHL Memorial Cup and a pair of gold medals in 2013 and 2015.
His best season in juniors was his final year potting 41 goals and 35 assists.
The 6’209 lbs. forward will turn just 22-years old mid-season and is definitely being given ample room to grow his game, which should blossom in the current campaign or after his given an extension as he approaches restricted free agency.