-Ottawa lost 4-2 to Buffalo last night in a sloppy game they let slip away.  Robin Lehner made 26 saves in the loss, while Marc Methot and Eric Gryba scored the goals.  The Sens were unable to do capitalise on their powerplay, hold on to their brief 2-1 lead in the third, and had some subpar performances (Mike Lundin stood out in that regard).  Here’s the boxscore; Scott had the scoring chances 15/14.  Amelia thought Cory Conacher was one of Ottawa’s better players, and while he was okay I think his linemates (Mika Zibanejad and Jakob Silfverberg) carried him–something to be expected in his first game with new teammates.  Paul MacLean called the next Sens game a “must win”, which seems a little hyperbolic, but if it works I can’t complain.

–Scott talked to Tampa Bay Lightning blogger John Fontana about Cory Conacher who talks about how shocked he was to see him traded and compares him to Martin St. Louis.

–Scott also takes a look at the Sens statistical trends which above anything else show how much Zibanejad and Silfverberg are improving.

-Binghamton lost 2-1 to Norfolk last night; Nathan Lawson made 29 saves in the loss and Cole Schneider scored the only goal.  Here’s the boxscore.  The B-Sens play the Admirals again tonight and I’d guess Marc Cheverie will get the start.

–Josh G previews the Elmira Jackals playoff series against Florida.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 6, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

-Ottawa plays Buffalo (14-17-6) tonight; the Sabres are lead by Cody Hodgson (29 points; Vanek is injured) and backstopped by Jhonas Enroth (2-2-1 2.95 .908).  Robin Lehner gets the start, while Jim O’Brien and Andre Benoit come out of the lineup, replaced by Peter Regin and Mike Lundin.

–Bryan Murray talked about the trade:

His [Cory Conacher] skill set is real high. He’s not a big player, but he’s quick, courageous, he handles the puck, he makes plays and gets points and if we need anything, we need a point-getter. Robin [Lehner] has done anything and everything that a young guy has to do to prove he’s NHL ready and (Tuesday) against Boston once more confirmed that. He was just superb (stopping 47 of 50 shots) and we lost but not because of him.

Pierre McGuire thought the deal was good for both sides.

–Robin Lehner talked about becoming a full-time NHL player:

Now [becoming an NHL player is] because of something I’ve worked on and the organization felt that I deserved. I really appreciate that. This organization took me in a few years ago when no one really knew about me. I’ve had some ups and downs and they really moulded me into a good prospect. Then they kept going and turned me into a professional. A lot of credit goes to them. I’m young, I’m 21 years old and it has always been my age against me. I really pushed the envelope and probably haven’t made it easy for the management up here. That’s fine, that’s who I am. They’ve taught me how to step back and relax a little bit.

–Dave Young reflects back on Bryan Murray’s wheeling and dealing days as compared to his long term approach these days.

–Sylvain St-Laurent reports that six journalists and four NHL.com commentators compiled their Jack Adams list and that only one included Paul MacLean, which is a good illustration of why fans shouldn’t get too excited about awards that are voted on.

-Binghamton faces Norfolk (33-30-5) tonight; the Admirals are lead by Patrick Maroon (43 points) and backstopped by Frederik Andersen (20-15-1 2.16 .929).

–Cam Charron takes a statistical winners and losers on the trade deadline, but sadly does not delve into the Sens move (likely because both players have very small statistical footprints).

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 5, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 3 Comments

-There has been a ton of reaction to the Ben Bishop–Cory Conacher trade which covers a wide gamut of reaction.  Nichols is cautionary, pointing out that Conacher played soft minutes with great players (Stamkos), that his possession numbers aren’t great and his production has sagged after a hot start.  Travis Yost thinks that:

Hanging a hat on something like scoring consistency, for the most part, is a lazy argument, especially when a player and his linemates were producing at a ridiculously unsustainable level.

Which is not (by itself) an argument I think anyone has made, but be that as it may, he does point out that the Lightning as a whole are a pretty bad possession team so (ergo) he argues that hurt Conacher‘s numbers.  Yost, incidentally, says that the consensus is that Ottawa “won” the trade, but I don’t know how he’s come to that conclusion (Senschirp echoes this point, but again, simply says it).  Ryan Classic calls the trade a win because (from what I can tell) there was no room for Bishop so he’s been turned into a useful asset (Conacher) the team needs.  Wayne Scanlan thinks the trade is a win both ways (although he mistakenly believes Conacher will play center whereas the Sens want him on the wing) and Scott Cullen, Allan Muir, and Scott Burnside agree, while Ryan Kennedy thinks the Sens won the deal.  Varada wraps it up:

Did Conacher benefit from playing with a generational talent in Stamkos? Are his possession stats and zone starts a cause for concern? (Yes.) Is he having an outlier season for an undrafted and tiny forward? Did we actually get hosed? Tampa paid nothing for Conacher and got a good season out of a rookie. And they parlayed that into a guy who could end up their starting goaltender, a guy who has outright won games for Ottawa that Ottawa had no right winning. This is what swinging for the fences looks like in Ottawa. Most teams throw a huge number of years and money at a player with only a year or two left in their prime. Ottawa trades what amounts to a 2nd round pick for one of the best rookies of the year and hopes it’s not a fluke. I don’t really mind this when you consider that it fits the long term plans of the club, the prospect cupboard is full, and Murray basically had to trade Bishop anyway. The problem with Conacher is that he’s here to score, and score only. He can’t be conveniently demoted down the lineup and play a checking role if his scoring touch goes cold . He needs to finish, and finish consistently.

For my part I see the deal as a gamble for both sides.  Perhaps there is some sense that Ottawa is taking the bigger risk (or has less upside) given that Tampa was willing to throw in a pick for a player they have to re-sign in the off-season.  What is a fourth rounder?  A shot in the dark seemingly, but it’s worth considering who Ottawa has taken under Bryan Murray in his tenure as GM of the Sens: Ben Blood (2007), Andre Petersson (2008), Derek Grant (2008), Chris Wideman (2009), Marcus Sorensen (2010), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2011), and Tim Boyle (2012).  Along with unknowns there are a couple of busts, but several of these players are considered to have NHL potential so the organisation does a better job with their late picks than most.

-For those wondering, the other serious possibilities for Bishop were (from Edmonton) Ryan Jones and a pick, while the Sens wanted Sean Couturier out of Philadelphia.

–Scott had the scoring chances in the Boston game 16/22.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 4, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

-Ottawa lost 3-2 to Boston last night in a game I was unable to watch (Mark Parisi offers an entertaining recap).  Robin Lehner made 47 saves for the loss, while Colin Greening and Andre Benoit scored the goals.  Jim O’Brien played nearly as little as Matt Kassian and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him out of the lineup next game (replaced by Peter Regin presumably).  MacLean largely went with four defenseman as Patrick Wierioch and Benoit did not get much ice time.  Here is the boxscore.

–Ben Bishop, as expected, has been traded.  Bishop goes to Tampa Bay for mighty-midget (5’8) Cory Conacher (34-9-15-24) and a fourth round pick.  The 23-year old Conacher is signed through next season.  Conacher had a hot start to his NHL career (12 points in his first 7 games), but only 12 in his last 28–still a respectable pace for a rookie.  The undrafted Conacher was signed as a free agent out of Canisius College and was the AHL MVP last season.

It’s a good deal for Ottawa as there was no place for Bishop in the organisation going forward.  I have no idea how Conacher projects, but he’s a young asset who is signed and all the early indicators are good.  Murray did well to get a pick along with the acquisition, even if it’s a later pick (the Sens have done well with later picks).  The move assures Robin Lehner his place in the NHL and it likely means that Mike Hoffman will return to Binghamton.

–Adrian Dater‘s power rankings have the Sens in sixth, writing:

Saturday’s 4-0 shutout by the Maple Leafs notwithstanding, the plucky Sens just  keep surprising everybody. Goalie Craig Anderson (ankle sprain) returned to  practice last week, but Bryan Murray said Jason Spezza‘s back rehab hasn’t gone  smoothly and there’s no guarantee that he’ll be ready for the playoffs. The Sens’ GM isn’t planning to go out of his way to be a major player at the trade  deadline. Speedy center Mika Zibanejad has been impressive, ranking in the top 10 in rookie scoring, hits and plus/minus. The Sens have a 13-3-3 home record and the NHL’s stingiest defense (2.06 goals-against per game). They’re also one of only four teams that haven’t allowed a short-handed goal. Think Ottawa will be fun to visit in the playoffs?

–Elmira announced their playoff roster which includes the following Sens/B-Sens prospects: Ben Blood, Louie Caporusso, Jack Downing, Marc Cheverie, Dustin Gazley, Darren Kramer, Chris Wideman, and Danny New.  No surprises here other than (perhaps) the exclusion of Brad Peltz who was eligible.  Of the group only Blood and Caporusso are currently with the Jackals.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 3, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 2 Comments

-Ottawa plays Boston (22-8-4) tonight; the Bruins are lead by Patrice Bergeron (31 points) and backstopped by Tuukka Rask (15-5-4 2.02 .922).  Robin Lehner will get the start.

-I somehow missed that Jared Cowen was on the Sens road trip yesterday, but he is.

–Sylvain St-Laurent believes that Ben Bishop won’t be moved until he is healthy, but believes Curtis Glencross would be good value in return for him if that deal happens.

–Nichols takes a look at acquiring Glencross:

As a forward who has tallied 24 and 26 goals in his last two seasons (he has 14 goals in 31 games this season), Glencross would assuredly help Ottawa now. And with his paltry cap hit, the Senators would continue to have the financial flexibility that allows them to go out and take on a significant contract that can help put the team over the top. Now here’s the rub… They would still have to go out and get that high-end guy. Like it or not, having cap friendly contracts and a shit-tonne of cap space is meaningless until the Senators actually go out into the trade or free agent market and acquire the kind of high-calibre player they surely covet. And if we’re really being honest with ourselves, those kinds of players are rarely, if ever, available in free agency. For the Senators to go out and acquire elite talent, they’re going to have to draft it or acquire it via trade. So it’s worth re-examining whether it’s prudent to move some young assets – in this case, the reported asking price is Ben Bishop and a draft pick – when these same assets could be packaged as part of a larger deal to bring in a better and younger talent who can play with this team’s younger core and hopefully give the Senators a bigger window of Cup contention. In a vacuum, the trade makes sense for right now. Bishop is expendable because Robin Lehner has shown that he’s NHL-ready and can play well when called upon. And the draft pick, well that’s a gamble at the best of times. Nonetheless, I don’t believe that Glencross is a player who can put Ottawa “over the top” by the time his contract expires following the 2014/15 season and for that reason, I’d rather see management explore the trade market in the summer, moving their currency (goaltending, draft picks, prospects) as part of a deal that nets them a better talent.

This is the sentiment I expressed yesterday, although I believe there is pressure to move Bishop before the deadline as it will be harder to do so in the off-season (assets have more value when you don’t have to move them).

–Varada takes a look at some of the trade deals of late and then reflects on Ottawa:

What should Ottawa do at the deadline, anyway? Well, considering how quickly any players of consequence are being snatched up, I can’t imagine Bryan Murray swinging for the fences on this one, and I desperately hope he doesn’t part with that 1st rounder. The best player I think Ottawa can hope for is a familiar face: Jason Spezza or Jared Cowen coming back in time for the playoffs. This deadline day was already going to be a boring one, but I think it might be especially so for Sens fans.

I can’t agree more.

–Bobby Kelly provides an overview of the week that was for Binghamton and I encourage you all to check it out.  A couple of thoughts on his thoughts: Cole Schneider‘s entire season has been up and down, with spurts of offence followed by barren periods, but I think he’s fluctuating less and less.  Marc Cheverie has struggled at the AHL level and if Andrew Hammond is ready for prime time I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cheverie returned to Elmira.

-Speaking of Elmira, Louie Caporusso was sent down to the ECHL and may well have made his last appearance in a Binghamton uniform.

–Hockey’s Future looks at prospects who are exceeding expectations and those falling behind and Ottawa’s Cody Ceci makes the former list:

Ceci’s development was done a great service when he was traded from the Ottawa 67’s to the Owen Sound Attack on January 7th. Ottawa struggled mightily in their own end all season, and has allowed an average of well over four goals per game. So while Ceci was playing a lot of minutes, it was not exactly the type of quality ice time that is conducive to developing good defensive habits. Since the trade to Owen Sound, Ceci has looked like a different player. He has been smarter defensively, but has also played with a great deal of confidence, shooting the puck more, and playing a crucial role in the Attack’s transition game.

–Conor Mulligan projects who the Sens will draft this year (assuming their pick selection and league finish remains the same) and proposes the following:
1-23 Bo Horvat (or Ryan Hartman or Alexander Wennberg)
3-83 Nicholas Baptiste (or Remi Elie or Jackson Houck)
4-113 Eric Roy (or Martin Reway, Greg Chase, or Nathan Pancel)
5-143 Blaine Byron (or Charlie Graham, Josh Burnside, or Emil Djuse)
6-173 J. C. Lipon (or Jeremy Gregoire, Stephen Harper, or Jonatan Tanus)

The Senators don’t need to draft in one specific area thanks to Bryan Murray’s great drafting throughout the years. This year, look for some off the board picks as the Senators go for boom/bust players with massive potential. They don’t need to play it safe; Murray and his scouting staff have done a great job stockpiling players.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 2, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

-I’ve never been a fan of April Fool’s shenanigans, but for those of you who enjoy the day have as much fun as you can.

-Some of the Sens walking wounded (Craig Anderson and Milan Michalek) are travelling with the team on their two-week road trip, which presumably means they will return to game action at some point.

–Scott had the scoring chances in the Toronto game 14/16.

-I’m not going to go through all the elements of Mark Parisi‘s ups and downs, but I will say I agree with him that Mika Zibanejad has improved significantly this season.

–Bruce Garrioch reports the Sens have talked to Calgary about Curtis Glencross and speculates Ben Bishop would be the piece that would go the other way.  Murray signed Glencross out of college years ago, so has a prior relationship with him, but the question remains does he fill a need for the Sens?  Short term he might–with Michalek‘s health issues Glencross could shore up the left side and he provides the “grit” fans are so fond of, but I’m not sure the move fits with a rebuilding team.  The Sens are not going to hoist the Stanley Cup this season and I don’t know that Glencross is the element that gives them the depth for a lengthy playoff run.

–Nichols offers a hilarious (and spoilery) comparison of the Sens to the characters in Game of Thrones (it’s hard to pick a favourite, but Eugene Melnyk as Robert Baratheon and Francis Lessard as Hodor are definitely up there).

–Stu Hackel wonders if the death of Dmitri Uchaykin via a head shot in the Kazakhstan professional league will lead to changes in the NHL, which I seriously doubt.  Don Sanderson‘s death in a fight didn’t impact the league, which seems to only address issues when they happen in the NHL itself (like the netting around the rinks were a result of the death of Brittanie Cecil in Columbus).

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

April 1, 2013
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment