–The Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch writes about the struggles of Bobby Butler (link), with Butler saying, “I’ve just got to keep playing and hope that one goes in. Once one goes in, the confidence will come back right away. Until then, I’ve just got to keep working hard and making things happen. Hopefully, I can just help the team win whatever way I can help. Last year, I went through a couple of these droughts. You learn every time to get through them and try to go back to the basics. It comes and goes. If you’re hot, you’re hot.”
-In the same article Garrioch can’t resist taking a shot at Nikita Filatov, “the club needs to get more effort if he’s going to be a full-time NHL player.” Garrioch’s comment is followed by Paul MacLean echoing what I’ve been saying about Filatov, “Nikita worked really hard and he’s a star in the AHL. It’s good for him and a great place for him to get confidence. When I talked to him (before he left), I told him I want that player here in Ottawa, but right now we’re not getting that player. When he comes up here, he gets a little bit tight and tentative and doesn’t do as much creatively with the puck.”
–Daniel Alfredsson is symptom free and skating again; there’s no time table for his return
–Hockey Futures‘ Chris Roberts writes about Sens prospect Jean-Gabriel Pageau (link), which includes the following, “‘There’s a big difference between NHL shot and junior. So I work a lot on my shot’, said Pageau, explaining that was one of the things the Senators brass told him to work on following his brief stint with the team during training camp.”
–The Silver Seven‘s Darren M writes about Zack Smith (link), but what I enjoyed most about his article is reminded us how well Don Brennan assesses draft picks (link) when he dismissed Erik Karlsson, “Karlsson won’t play in the NHL for a year or two or three, if he ever does. Real tough to get excited about him now.”
–The Hockey News, ESPN, and TSN’s power rankings are out, with the Sens 22nd, 20th, and 24th.
-Joy Lindsay tweets Binghamton’s lines in practice: Filatov-Cannone-Parrish, Hoffman-O’Brien-Petersson, Dziurzynski-Caporusso-Downing, Cowick-Hamilton-Lessard; Borowiecki-Schira, Wiercioch-Gryba, Godfrey-Heshka.
-Prospect updates (their position in team scoring is noted in brackets, defence compared to defence; I’ve also indicated if the player’s scoring position has change (with a + for up, – for down, and = for unchanged):
CHL
Jakub Culek (Rimouski, QMJHL) 17-2-6-8 (9th=)
Mark Stone (Brandon, WHL) 18-14-23-37 (1st=)
Stefan Noesen (Plymouth, OHL) 14-2-10-12 (8th-)
Matt Puempel (Peterborough, OHL) 18-11-9-20 (1st+)
Shane Prince (Ottawa 67s, OHL) 12-7-14-21 (3rd+)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (Gatineau, QMJHL) 14-17-9-26 (1st=)
Darren Kramer (Spokane, WHL) 13-7-6-13 (2nd=)
Jordan Fransoo (Brandon, WHL) 18-0-2-2 (t-5th+)
SEL
Jakob Silfverberg (Brynas) 19-7-7-14 (4th-)
Marcus Sorensen (Boras) 4-0-1-1 (NR)
Fredrik Claesson (Djurgarden) 19-1-3-4 (4th-)
Mika Zibanejad (Djurgarden) 3-1-0-1 (NR)
NCAA
Ben Blood (WCHA-North Dakota) 9-1-2-3 (t-2nd+)
Chris Wideman (CCHA-Miami) 10-1-3-4 (t-1st=)
Jeff Costello (CCHA-Notre Dame) 2-0-2-2 (injured)
Brad Peltz (ECAC-Yale) 1-0-0-0
Michael Sdao (ECAC-Princeton) 5-3-1-4 (t-1st)
Bryce Aneloski (WCHA-Nebraska-Omaha) 10-1-6-7 (1st=)
Max McCormick (CCHA-Ohio State) 4-1-3-4 (injured)
Ryan Dzingel (CCHA-Ohio State) 9-3-5-8 (t-3rd-)
eyeonthesens 