That’s the question I’ve read or been asked by many people about the upcoming 2012-13 Binghamton Senators. And I don’t necessarily have the answer that everyone is looking for.
What we do know for sure is that Corey Locke, the B-Sens leading point producer over the past two seasons (31+96=127) will not be with the team. Corey has decided to play with HC TPS of SM-Liiga over in Turku Finland. If you have no idea what league that is or just wanna know more about where Corey has decided to play then click here for more info. As a note, I too had to look it up so don’t feel bad.
So where does that leave the Binghamton Senators this season? Well here is the forwards roster list straight from the B-Sens press release: Pat Cannone, Louie Caporusso, Corey Cowick, Jakub Culek, Stephane Da Costa, Jack Downing, David Dziurzynski, Derek Grant, Wacey Hamilton, Mike Hoffman, Hugh Jessiman, Darren Kramer, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Brad Peltz, Andre Petersson, Shane Prince, Cole Schneider, Jakob Silfverberg, Mark Stone, Mika Zibanejad. That’s 20 forwards invited to training camp for Head Coach Luke Richardson to narrow down 13. The 11 players I highlighted in bold are the players I see making this years team no matter what. That leaves 2 spots before guys head to the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals or back to major juniors above the border.
The highlights from the players in bold start with two Swedish rookies Mika Zibanejad (C) & Jakob Silfverberg (LW). The two are highly touted prospects for the Ottawa Senators with both all ready playing for the big club last season though in a very limited capacity. Mika was drafted 6th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft behind players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who will also play in the AHL this season for the Oklahoma City Barons. Though Mika will not play against the Barons and Hopkins; looking at the point production of the two players head to head may give an indication of how good he may be. But note, Hopkins did play with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers last season which adds to his development over Mika’s rookie season this year. Mika & Jakub could end up on a line together with a right-winger with a good shot and could be a point producing line for the B-Sens.
Hugh Jessiman joins the B-Sens this year and will truly be the teams only forward vet which I believe worries many who follow the team. Drafted 12th overall by the New York Rangers in 2003; Hugh has moved from one organization to another after his original 3 year entry-level contract. Hugh is big 6’6″, 224 pounds and uses his size to play a feisty style of hockey with big checks and dropping the gloves when needed to. He will not be the scoring machine of a Corey Locke with only 200 points in 430 career AHL games but he’s been there before and can lead by example on the ice for the young guys coming. With my bets of Andre Benoit wearing the “C” on his jersey, it’s a sure bet that Hugh will be wearing an “A”.
The player that I root for, so to speak and that I truly believe has to shine this season, is Mike Hoffman. Entering into his 3rd season with the B-Sens, Mike has all the skills to be a scorer in this league and has the attention of the Ottawa Senators. But a lack luster first season followed by a slightly improved 2nd season leads me to believe we haven’t seen the real Mike Hoffman. After having 2 very impressive seasons in the QMJHL (producing excellent NHL players such as Mario Lemieux, Pat LaFontaine & Guy Lafleur); Mike entered the pro ranks with the reputation of an offensive weapon that just hadn’t been completely developed yet. I have spoken a lot with coaches and with Mike to know that there is something more inside the young forward and this season is the time that Mike not only leads the team in points like last season (21+28=49) but to turn out an 80 or 90 point season.
Finally, I don’t believe the B-Sens will score a lot or on a regular basis but if the team is going to get some scoring from two particular players, then it has to be from Andre Petersson & Stephane Da Costa. Both are skilled shooters, speedy and smart players but last season both players were inconsistent at best which limited their point totals and made people question their drive to play at this level. Without the NHL playing to start the season I would think that both players may fall into the Robin Lehner category of what will motivate them to work hard and produce with a very young team. This will be a challenge for Coach Richardson this season and will be something I will look at throughout the season.
Tomorrow I will post my thoughts on the coaching staff; the positives and the questions about a rookie coach with a veteran assistant.
As always, thanks for reading! Comments are welcomed and very much encouraged!
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[…] Alex Auld). Howard has a positive view of the lockout version of the Binghamton blueline. A second article looks at the forwards. He assumes (dubiously in my opinion) that Corey Cowick and Wacey Hamilton […]