-Ottawa faces New Jersey (15-11-6) tonight; the Devils are lead by Patrik Elias (29 points) and backstopped by Martin Brodeur (10-2-3 2.10 .914). Ben Bishop will get the start, but no other lineup changes are expected.
–Nichols provides an overview of the Danny DeKeyser sweepstakes and ends with this:
It’s worth reiterating that the Red Wings have widely been considered the favorites because DeKeyser’s a Michigan native who has been teammates with Red Wings Assistant GM Jim Nill’s son.
For those who missed it, here’s Red Line Report‘s scouting assessment:
He plays a simple, defence first, stay-at-home game. He’s not flashy at the offensive end, but moves the puck well and gets it to the right spots by making good decisions. Efficiently gets the puck out of the zone with crisp outlets. He’s physical and wins the battles down low, keeps the crease clear, and plays with a bit of a nasty edge. He’s an outstanding penalty killer who blocks a ton of shots.
–Andy Strickland Tweets that the Sens are the frontrunners to land NCAA free agent Buddy Robinson (38-8-8-16), who finished his second year at Lake Superior State. [An update: the signing is now official. The 6’5 rightwinger signed a three-year ELC and fits the mould of last year’s Cole Schneider signing where he’s a project for down the road (although presumably on the rugged side). I’d expect him to report to Binghamton shortly (he’s signed an ATO), assuming all his academic commitments have been dealt with. Robinson was tied for 5th in team scoring with Lake Superior. The Sens have signed a player from Lake Superior before (Derek Smith), but that was under Muckler’s management.]
–Mark Parisi goes through his weekly ups and downs and the only two players warranting a down are Jim O’Brien for being scratched (a reasonable choice) and Zack Smith because pucks have deflected off him into his own net (which seems a little unfair). For my part I’d put Mike Lundin as someone who struggled (he may have broken a record with giveaways in his first game back from injury), as well as poor Peter Regin whose offensive woes continue.
-Binghamton has released Nick Craven from his ATO. The NCAA free agent played four games for the B-Sens without producing a point.
-A couple of other B-Sens notes: Brad Peltz has still not suited up for an AHL game yet this season, nor has he been returned to the ECHL since he was called up from Trenton in January. Ben Blood awaits his first AHL point 24 games in (although given that he only has 1 in 29 ECHL games, it’s not a big surprise). I have to think after Marc Cheverie‘s performance on Sunday the situation would be ripe for NCAA free agent signee Andrew Hammond to get a start, but I’m not sure if he has finished his scholastic commitments yet and reported to the team.
This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)
eyeonthesens 