CRASHING THE
NET...
The Senators have
plenty of National Hockey League caliber players.
From the guys back in Binghamton, to the guys who
will step into rolls in Ottawa over the next few
years, talent is all over the locker room this season.
As expected third year
pros Jason Spezza and Antoine Vermette, who both
spent last season with Ottawa, after their first
season here in Bingo, should both be playmakers and
bolster Binghamton again this season. Another Ottawa
up and comer and Binghamton alumni back in the fold
is winger Josh Langfeld, who appeared in 38 games
with Ottawa last season.
Jason Spezza,
completed his first complete NHL season, with 22
goals, 33 assists, and 55 points. Ranking him fourth
among Ottawa scorers. The AHL and publications like
The Hockey News are again throwing the light on him,
he should be one of the league's biggest offensive
threats.
Antoine Vermette
played in 57 games with the Ottawa Senators last
season. Though not matching his rookie season team
leading tally of 34 goals and 62 points here in
Binghamton, he managed a respectable 14 points,
scoring seven goals in Ottawa. He's expected to be
the second line center.
Josh Langfeld proved
last season that he was made of NHL material, scoring
seven goals and ten assists for 17 points in only 38
games for Ottawa. Lets not forget his contributions
to Binghamton last season, as he tallied 13 goals and
14 assists in 30 AHL games. He'll remain a threat on
wing with Jason or Antoine.
Also on wing is a
Binghamton fan favorite, Denis Hamel, looks to add to
his team leading totals from last season of 29 goals,
38 assists, and 67 points.
The Captain is back,
Chris Kelly will look to bounce back from an injury
riddled season last year and prove to doubters that
he's the right man to wear the "C." Despite
the injury he tallied 15 goals and 19 assists for 34
points in 52 games.
After the Bonvie trade
last season Charlie Stephens had some big fan
expectations to fill. He made an immediate impact
with nearly a point a game, finishing the season with
15 goals and 17 assists in only 37 games. Coaches say
he's in better shape and mindset and they're big
things from him this season.
Welcome Pat Kavanaugh!
He played last season with the Manitoba Moose, where
he was tied for the team lead with 23 goals and was
second in points with 45. If Pat can repeat that kind
of first year success in his sophmore season as a
member of a far more talented squad, he will
definately be a force and find the back of the net
for the Senators.
If you followed the
preseason games, you liked what you saw of rookie
Brandon Bochenski. If you didn't, let me catch you
up, he scored four goals and added two assists for
six points in four games. The Senators are looking
for him to repeat his collegiate success, where he
led the University of North Dakota in all three
scoring categories last year. Tallying 27 goals and
33 assists for 60 points. If you're a fact freak that
ranked him second in the country for points last
season. He earned first team All-American honors and
was top ten in voting as a finalist for the Hobey
Baker Award. He should make quite the splash, as a
natural goal scorer, he could be an AHL All-Star or
Rookie team selection.
We all enjoy some of
the rough stuff, and after leveling David Koci during
preseason like he did last March, Brian McGrattan
will be asked to continue as the team’s lead
enforcer. He's not alone though, as 21-year-old
Rookie Danny Bois proved during the I-81 Puck Cup.
Bois likes the physical game, having registered 1054
penalty minutes during three seasons with the London
Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.
Other returning guys
upfront for the Sens include Arpad Mihaly and Greg
Watson. Mihaly made strides last season on his game
and team officials are looking for greater success
this season. Watson, was on the bubble at camp after
a disappointing first season. A second round draft
pick in 2001, the team hopes that he will surpass his
11 point tally of last season.
Lets not forget rookie
winger Grant Potulny. He won a national championship
for Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota in
2003. He must have taken that "State of Hockey"
to heart scoring a minimum of 15 goals in each of his
four college seasons.
I give our Offense 8
out of 10 Stars.
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