ON THE
BLUELINE...
The Sens aren't
limited to National Hockey League talent on their
offense, the defense is bolstered too. Brian Pothier
is back and joined by Anton Volchenkov. Both spent
last season with Ottawa and they are expected to help
stablize the defense.
Brian Pothier is back
home on the B-Sens blueline after spending his first
full season in the NHL, having camped out on the
Ottawa blueline for 55 games. After a dismal season
for Binghamton's defensive squad last season, Brian's
return brings new hope and his experience is needed
to help quarterback an effective powerplay and
penalty kill.
Anton Volchenkov did
something even Jason Spezza couldn't, and that was to
impress the Ottawa brass enough to make the team from
the get go of his rookie season. This will be his
first AHL season and hopes are high for the young
blueliner, who Ottawa brass hopes gains more
experience, even while playing in the minors.
Binghamton coaches are hoping his play and Brian's
leadership will prove to be exactly what the doctor
ordered for the rest of the Sens' blueline.
Returning on defense
for the Sens are Andy Hedlund, Christoph Schubert and
Jan Platil. Three of the stronger players on arguably
the weakest part of last season's team. With the
addition of Pothier and Volchenkov some of the
pressure is off of Schubert and Platil, who were
really forced into leadership roles last season
without mastering their pro games yet. The new depth
and veteran influence should help foster improvements
in their games.
Last but not least,
welcome rookie Neil Komadoski and fourth-year
blueliner Jesse Fibiger. Komadoski, comes to us from
Notre Dame, where he was known as a physical style
player, who liked to mess it up in the corners.
Fibiger should also prove to be quite a gain on the
blueline. He scored five goals and 12 assists in 55
games last season with Cleveland Barons. He's yet
another B-Sen with NHL experience having appeared in
16 games with the San Jose Sharks.
We'll probably see the
greatest improvement of the Sens' game on defense. I
give them a 7 out of 10.
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