Ottawa Senators | CollegeHockeyPlayers

27Jun

Corey Locke(84) TPS

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There comes a time when a player has pretty much done all he can in North America. Even though he was drafted by Montreal Canadiens in the 4th round of 2003 (#114 overall), has 573 AHL regular season and another 62 playoff games to his credit; plus 2 Calder Cup Championships (Binghamton 2011 and Hamilton 2007), has scored 197 goals and added 383 assists for a total of 580 points and has plenty of other accolades including league MVP to his credit, sometimes it’s just time.

28-year old center Corey Locke(84) signed on with TPS of SM-liiga for the 2012/2013 season as he becomes an unrestricted free agent after signing a two-year deal in 2010 with Ottawa Senators.

Odds are the quick thinking, skillful 5’9″ 175 lbs. playmaker will continue to produce a point per game even in the new environment.

It comes as a bit of a surprise that he would leave to go play in Europe as his two-way contract pays him pretty well and another team could easily use his services for another couple of seasons, but again, seems like more of a timing issue; and the level of hockey he’s entering will keep him at the top of his game.

Ironically he earned his only NHL point, an assist, last season. He’s appeared in only 9 big league games.

See related posts: 1/15/11, 5/6/11, 6/5/11.

26Jun

Craig Schira(6) Frisk Asker

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3rd year, undrafted defenseman Craig Schira(6) was not qualified an offer for a fourth season within Ottawa Senators‘ organization, so he splits the country to play in 2012/2013 with Frisk Asker of Norway’s GET-ligaen.

He signed a 3-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent coming out of 5 years in juniors and skated 215 regular and postseason games (15 goals, 33 assists) with Binghamton Senators of the AHL, where he won the Calder Cup with the team in 2012.

At 6′ 196 lbs. the 24-year old has good size but is a bit slow moving and lacks the killer instinct to shut down opposing forwards.

The change of scenery will likely do him well.

13May

Pat Cannone(12) Ottawa Senators

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Undrafted center Pat Cannone(12) was rewarded by Ottawa Senators for a successful rookie season in what couldn’t have been the easiest season to play with their bottom dragging AHL affiliate in Binghamton.

Originally signed to a 1-year entry level two-way deal, he re-signed for two more and won’t have to worry about a contract through 2013/2014.

The 25-year old 5’11” 197 lbs. forward has shown through his college years that he can acquaint himself with the scoresheet. In 76 games with the B-Sens he scored 19 goals and 24 assists.

He played 2 games last season scoring a goal and an assist and was with the team practicing during their fairytale Calder Cup Championship run but did not appear in any games.

He’s very likely to put up more points next season.

30Apr

Ryan Potulny(27) Hershey Bears

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Hershey Bears‘ 7th year center Ryan Potulny(27) was a very smart 2-year pick up for Washington Capitals last season.

In 61 AHL games he scored 33 goals and 32 assists, good enough for top 10 in the league, and was a veteran force for a team that was in a bit of a rebuilding mode.

They didn’t make it out of the first round of the postseason but in 5 games he added another pair of goals and assists.

This was the first season where he failed to appear in an NHL game, which is a bit odd. In 126 games the 27-year old has recorded 22 goals and 27 assists but is an effective agitator out there.

Going into 2012/2013 his contract dictates he’s signed on a one-way contract and will be paid a minimum of $525, which again is smart and nicely deserving of this team player.

His contributions to Binghamton Senators’ 2011 Calder Cup were undeniable.

25Apr

Mike Brodeur(29) Houston Aeros

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For the first time in his 8-year pro career, goaltender Mike Brodeur(29) didn’t sign a contract to play with a team for the 2011/2012 season.

This is after two seasons in the Ottawa Senators‘ system, where he appeared in 7 games from 2009-2011. Last season he appeared in NHL, AHL and ECHL games.

Then seemingly out of nowhere, he signs a pto 3 weeks before the end of regular season with Houston Aeros and finds himself to be the back-up but would come in to relieve an injured Matt Hackett in each of the first two games AHL Calder Cup Playoffs and got the call to start game 3 backstopping 31 shots for the 1-0 win to put them back in the series.

Aeros did get bounced from the Calder Cup Playoffs by Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday night.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#211 overall), it’s a wonder where the 29-year old will end up next season. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him go the Europe route.

21Apr

David Rundblad(2) Phoenix Coyotes

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Swedish-born, 21-year old rookie defenseman David Rundblad(2) started his first season on the blue line with Ottawa Senators and appeared in 24 games scoring his first NHL goal and 3 assists with them before being traded to Phoenix Coyotes in a deal that has maybe paid more immediate dividends for the Senators, as they got Kyle Turris.

The Coyotes only utilized him in 6 regular season games in the 2011/2012 season, but he added another 3 assists to his first year totals.

In 30 AHL games with Portland Pirates, he managed 7 goals and 9 assists but was a not so good -18 plus/minus.

At 6’2″ 190 lbs. he definitely looks like he has good size out there but easily needs to add more muscle and grit into his game to fulfill the promise of being a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#17 overall). He signed with them but got dished to Ottawa in what amounted to mostly a deal of draft picks.

He was just recalled to join Phoenix in their Stanley Cup run, which is closing in on a first round victory, but it’s doubtful he’ll see any game time action with the depth they have on d.

02Apr

Corey Cowick(23) Binghamton Senators

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Last season, Binghamton Senators‘ 2nd year left wing Corey Cowick(23) split time his playing time equally between the AHL and ECHL Elmira Jackals.

In 2011/2012, the Ottawa 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#160 overall) has doubled his time with the B-Sens playing in career high 52 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists.

By no means did these numbers immune him from getting reassigned, as he was sent down in early February for the first time this season and has been on the road between the two New York hockey teams on a pair of occasions.

The 22-year old, 6’3″ 208 lbs. forward is signed to an entry level deal with Ottawa through 2012/2013. He’s going to have to use that size more to his advantage next season is how we see it.

17Mar

Jim O’Brien (19)

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Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd year center Jim O’Brien(19) was a 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#29 overall) and in the 3rd year of his entry level deal, he’s starting to light it up a bit.

He has career highs with 19 games played, 2 goals and 2 assists, his first NHL points but failed to tally in his first recall for 6 games last season and seems to be trying to make up for it in earnest in this a new contract year for him.

Through 183 regular season AHL games, all with Binghamton he’s racked up a tidy 39 goals and 49 assists.

He was a pivotal part of the B-Sens’ Calder Cup Championship run last season appearing in 23 postseason games scoring 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists).

At 6’2″ 2oo lbs. he has the makings of a power forward, now he just needs to bring it.

19Feb

Josh Hennessy(9) Vaxjo Lakers

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Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#43 overall) forward Josh Hennessy(11) only spent one season in their system with Cleveland Barons before he was involved in a big trade that sent him to Ottawa Senators.

He stayed with the team for four seasons playing mostly in Binghamton and appeared in his only NHL games in each of those years (20 games, 1 goal, no assists).

Falling off their depth chart, he became an unrestricted free agent in 2010 and decided to sign with HC Lugano of the Swiss Elite League.

For the 2011/2012 season, he was offered the opportunity to come home (he’s originally from Brockton, MA) and signed a one-year, two-way deal with Boston Bruins.

He was recently recalled to the NHL for the first time in a couple of years and skated 7:54 in his first game (an unfortunate 4-2 loss) with 2 penalty minutes for roughing.

Look for him to get another chance as the Bruins continue to fight off the injury bug.

In 5 AHL seasons, he scored 20 or more goals per campaign. This year with Providence Bruins he has 15 goals and 15 assists in 49 games.

24Jan

Andre Petersson(20) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2008 4th round pick (#109 overall), right wing Andre Petersson(20) received his 1st NHL called up in his rookie season.

With their AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators he has 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 30 games and is a +2 plus/minus.

He’s not so big at 5’9″ 172 lbs. but the 21-year old Swedish-born player had been playing professionally in his home country for two full campaigns before signing a 3-year entry level deal at the end of last season to come over and play in North America.

Used sparingly in his first big league game, he skated 5:02 of ice time over 7 shifts but failed to post any other stats.