–The Ottawa Sun‘s Don Brennan gleefully writes about Nikita Filatov‘s demotion to Binghamton (link). He quotes Bryan Murray, “He wasn’t playing and the indication from the coaches was that he wasn’t going to be playing over the weekend. He’s a young player, he has to play. If he’s going to be a player on our team, we want him to be a Top 6 forward. Skill level indicates that’s what he should be.” The Ottawa Citizen‘s Allen Panzeri, who doesn’t have an axe to grind with Filatov, so includes a further quote from Murray in his story (link), “We’ve asked (Filatov) to play hard, have the right frame of mind, and that’s what he says he’s going to do.” Joy Lindsay has the most complete look at the move (link), making the point that Filatov is on on an entry-level contract which makes sending him down easier and cheaper. “That was part of it [his contract]. The other part was we had extra bodies, and we didn’t want one guy sitting around who we couldn’t see getting back in the lineup the next couple games. The best way to try to get him to get his game going is playing games down there, just competing, playing the way we want him to play.”
So what can be gleaned from all this? First, neither major publication really delved into the issue, but more to the point: Filatov wasn’t going to play this weekend and Murray believes he needs to play. The only other roster player who could have been sent down was Stephane Da Costa, but he’s played too well to be demoted. I don’t think Filatov will have any issues in Binghamton in the short term. Looking ahead, it’s hard to imagine at this point that the Sens will keep Mika Zibanejad and then the decision on Filatov will be a matter of injuries and Da Costa.
-This morning Pierre McGuire’s segment on The Team 1200 (link) believes there’s a need to worry about Craig Anderson, “He shows flashes of brillance and then for some reason it won’t kick in.” McGuire says that his problem is he gets comfortable and then doesn’t respond well to the pressure of being the starter.
–The Ottawa Citizen‘s Waynce Scanlan and James Gordon had an online chat with Sens fans today (link) and Scanlan made some interesting comments: “I think the Senators are going to be grilled about the contract to Phillips, to Anderson, Gonchar, Kuba. They’re paying these guys big $ and for what? To head to a lottery pick. It’s going to be a long year, last night we got a sense of just how long it will be.” I like his general point, but the latter two contracts were signed before the team started the rebuild so are more a product of being difficult to move than desired. “I think MacLean felt pressure from within the org to get Butler into the lineup, and to do something about Lee, who sat for so many games last year. BUT, he didn’t want to sit Rundblad, so he played, but just 12 minutes, not enough time to break a sweat. He doesn’t look comfortable yet, to me.” I agree completely with Scanlan here. I don’t think MacLean has been impressed by Butler and I think he’d prefer to play the dynamic Rundblad over Lee.
-Joy Lindsay has posted the lines prior to tonights game (link): Filatov-Locke-Daugavins, Cowick-O’Brien-Parrish, Grant-Cannone-Hoffman, Gratchev-Hamilton-Lessard; Borowiecki-Conboy, Gryba-Schira, Heshka-Wiercioch. Petersson, Dziurzynski, Caporusso, and Raymond are the scratches (the first two are dinged up), while McKenna gets the start.
–The Hockey News has posted its AHL predictions (link), with Binghamton in 9th (on the outside looking in).
-Tonight is also the first game of the season for the Elmira Jackals.
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