Home
Publications
According to M.Sharp and a couple of others in Bingo, Cowen IS eligible to play in Bingo next year because he's completed 4 years in the WHL. A potentially massive piece of news for both the Sens and the B-Sens. I'd MUCH rather see Cowen play in the pros - and NOT have it have to be in the NHL.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100413/SPORTS01/4130379/B-Sens+face+youth+movement
BINGHAMTON -- The points leader is likely headed overseas. The face of
the franchise just wrapped up the third and final year of his contract.
The popular enforcer and the co-MVP are both unrestricted free agents.
So while the Binghamton Senators appear set to welcome the next wave of
Ottawa prospects next fall, they might also see some turnover among
their more established group of players this summer.
The B-Sens wrapped up their eighth season Sunday, playing their best
hockey over the final six weeks but falling short of the playoffs for a
fifth straight spring. Ottawa will open its best-of-seven, first-round
series in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, and few personnel decisions are
likely to come until the parent club's season is over.
The NHL's free agency period officially opens July 1.
"I think there's a pretty good core group here," B-Sens head coach Don
Nachbaur said Monday morning.
"We've got a lot of draft picks coming in next year, guys that have been
drafted by Ottawa. And that's not my job. I can't even really comment
on what's going to transpire over the summer months, but I'm sure
they'll do a good job of bringing in the type of players that we need to
win."
Six Binghamton regulars remain under contract for next season:
Forwards Erik Condra, Zack Smith, Jim O'Brien, Kaspars Daugavins and
Jason Bailey, along with defenseman Craig Schira.
Right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, who spent the final six-plus weeks with
Binghamton, is also under contract for another season. If he remains
with the organization through the summer and doesn't make the big club
out of camp, Ottawa would have to weigh paying him $3.5 million to play
in the American Hockey League again next fall.
"I have no idea," Cheechoo said Monday, when asked about his status for
next season. "The ball's in their court right now, so I'll have a chat
with them when the season ends and see what their plans are, and what
direction they're heading."
Binghamton got a sneak peak this month at the next class of
prospects, as Eric Gryba, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman, joined the
team after his senior season at Boston University and goalie Robin
Lehner, 18, made two starts last weekend, following his season in the
major junior-level Ontario Hockey League.
The Senators face a decision on Lehner, as he is still eligible to
return to juniors for another season of development. The position itself
will be one to watch this summer, as Binghamton's other goalies this
season -- Mike Brodeur, Chris Holt and Andy Chiodo -- were all on
one-year deals.
"That'll be answered in training camp, in what he does," Nachbaur said
of Lehner, who went 2-0-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .898
save percentage in his starts with Binghamton. "Most hockey players are
built in the summertime. That offseason is a time to develop size,
strength. We know he has the tools."
Among the other prospects that could potentially see time with the
B-Sens are Jared Cowen, a 6-5, 220-pound defenseman and first-round
draft pick last year, and Patrick Wiercioch, a 6-4, 190-pound defenseman
and second-round pick in 2008. Along with Gryba, the pair would give
Binghamton's defense some much-needed size next season.
Other draft picks like Cornell University captain Colin Greening,
high-scoring Quebec Major Junior Hockey League forward Mike Hoffman, and
power forward Corey Cowick out of the OHL could be in the mix as well.
The Senators will also face decisions on restricted free agents like
forwards Cody Bass and Ryan Keller, and defensemen Tomas Kudelka and
Geoff Kinrade. Keller was the team's co-MVP this season, and Bass earned
"top defensive forward" honors. Kinrade led the team with a plus-27
rating.
And then there are the unrestricted free agents. That group includes
left wing Denis Hamel, the franchise's all-time leader in every major
offensive category, and center Martin St. Pierre, who led the team with
72 points on 24 goals and 48 assists this season.
Also in the unrestricted group are popular enforcer Jeremy Yablonski,
veteran defenseman Drew Bannister, co-MVP Josh Hennessy and 25-year-old
Derek Smith, who earned "top defenseman" honors this season.
St. Pierre, for one, seems unlikely to return.
"See how it goes, but I think my plans right now are to head overseas,"
he said Monday, listing Switzerland and Russia as two possible
destinations. "I've been five years in this league, doing everything I
can as far as being up and down. So ... I got my shot to play in Ottawa
and (that) obviously didn't work out, so I think it's time for me to
head overseas and go set myself up for a future."
Meanwhile, Hennessy didn't rule out a return to the Senators or a trip
overseas after setting an AHL career high with 30 goals this season.
"I want to play in the NHL," said Hennessy, who ranks second all-time
behind Hamel on the B-Sens' career lists for goals (99) and points
(213). "That's what I've always wanted to do. At some point, I guess the
thoughts kind of creep into your head. I don't think it's to the point
where I feel like I tried and I can't do it, because especially after
the season I had, I feel like I absolutely can play in the NHL. That
being said, I need to find the right situation where I'll get an
opportunity.
"And Europe's not out of the question. It can't be. The season ended
(Sunday). I haven't wrapped my head around everything. I haven't even
really talked to my agent much about anything. I'm sure I will in the
next couple weeks, but for sure, I want to play in the NHL."
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100413/SPORTS01/4130379/B-Sens+face+youth+movement
BINGHAMTON -- The points leader is likely headed overseas. The face of
the franchise just wrapped up the third and final year of his contract.
The popular enforcer and the co-MVP are both unrestricted free agents.
So while the Binghamton Senators appear set to welcome the next wave of
Ottawa prospects next fall, they might also see some turnover among
their more established group of players this summer.
The B-Sens wrapped up their eighth season Sunday, playing their best
hockey over the final six weeks but falling short of the playoffs for a
fifth straight spring. Ottawa will open its best-of-seven, first-round
series in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, and few personnel decisions are
likely to come until the parent club's season is over.
The NHL's free agency period officially opens July 1.
"I think there's a pretty good core group here," B-Sens head coach Don
Nachbaur said Monday morning.
"We've got a lot of draft picks coming in next year, guys that have been
drafted by Ottawa. And that's not my job. I can't even really comment
on what's going to transpire over the summer months, but I'm sure
they'll do a good job of bringing in the type of players that we need to
win."
Six Binghamton regulars remain under contract for next season:
Forwards Erik Condra, Zack Smith, Jim O'Brien, Kaspars Daugavins and
Jason Bailey, along with defenseman Craig Schira.
Right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, who spent the final six-plus weeks with
Binghamton, is also under contract for another season. If he remains
with the organization through the summer and doesn't make the big club
out of camp, Ottawa would have to weigh paying him $3.5 million to play
in the American Hockey League again next fall.
"I have no idea," Cheechoo said Monday, when asked about his status for
next season. "The ball's in their court right now, so I'll have a chat
with them when the season ends and see what their plans are, and what
direction they're heading."
Binghamton got a sneak peak this month at the next class of
prospects, as Eric Gryba, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman, joined the
team after his senior season at Boston University and goalie Robin
Lehner, 18, made two starts last weekend, following his season in the
major junior-level Ontario Hockey League.
The Senators face a decision on Lehner, as he is still eligible to
return to juniors for another season of development. The position itself
will be one to watch this summer, as Binghamton's other goalies this
season -- Mike Brodeur, Chris Holt and Andy Chiodo -- were all on
one-year deals.
"That'll be answered in training camp, in what he does," Nachbaur said
of Lehner, who went 2-0-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .898
save percentage in his starts with Binghamton. "Most hockey players are
built in the summertime. That offseason is a time to develop size,
strength. We know he has the tools."
Among the other prospects that could potentially see time with the
B-Sens are Jared Cowen, a 6-5, 220-pound defenseman and first-round
draft pick last year, and Patrick Wiercioch, a 6-4, 190-pound defenseman
and second-round pick in 2008. Along with Gryba, the pair would give
Binghamton's defense some much-needed size next season.
Other draft picks like Cornell University captain Colin Greening,
high-scoring Quebec Major Junior Hockey League forward Mike Hoffman, and
power forward Corey Cowick out of the OHL could be in the mix as well.
The Senators will also face decisions on restricted free agents like
forwards Cody Bass and Ryan Keller, and defensemen Tomas Kudelka and
Geoff Kinrade. Keller was the team's co-MVP this season, and Bass earned
"top defensive forward" honors. Kinrade led the team with a plus-27
rating.
And then there are the unrestricted free agents. That group includes
left wing Denis Hamel, the franchise's all-time leader in every major
offensive category, and center Martin St. Pierre, who led the team with
72 points on 24 goals and 48 assists this season.
Also in the unrestricted group are popular enforcer Jeremy Yablonski,
veteran defenseman Drew Bannister, co-MVP Josh Hennessy and 25-year-old
Derek Smith, who earned "top defenseman" honors this season.
St. Pierre, for one, seems unlikely to return.
"See how it goes, but I think my plans right now are to head overseas,"
he said Monday, listing Switzerland and Russia as two possible
destinations. "I've been five years in this league, doing everything I
can as far as being up and down. So ... I got my shot to play in Ottawa
and (that) obviously didn't work out, so I think it's time for me to
head overseas and go set myself up for a future."
Meanwhile, Hennessy didn't rule out a return to the Senators or a trip
overseas after setting an AHL career high with 30 goals this season.
"I want to play in the NHL," said Hennessy, who ranks second all-time
behind Hamel on the B-Sens' career lists for goals (99) and points
(213). "That's what I've always wanted to do. At some point, I guess the
thoughts kind of creep into your head. I don't think it's to the point
where I feel like I tried and I can't do it, because especially after
the season I had, I feel like I absolutely can play in the NHL. That
being said, I need to find the right situation where I'll get an
opportunity.
"And Europe's not out of the question. It can't be. The season ended
(Sunday). I haven't wrapped my head around everything. I haven't even
really talked to my agent much about anything. I'm sure I will in the
next couple weeks, but for sure, I want to play in the NHL."
