SnapShot: Ottawa Signs Defenceman Mark Borowiecki

(source: Jean Levac, The Ottawa Citizen)

Your Ottawa Senators continue the rebuild with another signing of a draft prospect to help stock the pipeline. Putting ink on a new two year entry level contract is Ottawa native, Mark Borowiecki. The 21 year old defenceman stands 6’1″ and 205lbs and was Ottawa’s fifth round draft pick (139th overall) in 2008. Borowiecki holds the distinction of being the first ever Ottawa native chosen by the Sens. We’ll see if he can complete the fairy tale and one day suit up for the Sens.

Having just completed his third season at Clarkson University where he was the team captain, Borowiecki will join the AHL Binghamton Senators in their hunt for a playoff birth. Described as a ‘hard nosed’ blueliner, Borowiecki will fore-go his last year of collegiate eligibility to start his pro career.

Check out this video of Borowiecki talking about signing his first pro contract. Video courtesy of SensTV.

Assistant GM Tim Murray  describes Borowiecki as “really hard nosed on the ice, was a captain, led by example and competed hard every shift. He’s hard to play against in the defensive zone and the offensive zone. At the start here, if he gets into some games in Binghamton, it’ll be in a very safe defensive role and we’ll see how his game evolves. He’s more of a defensive defenceman but he’s got good offensive skills and can move the puck and shoot the puck. He’s a local kid and he’s an extremely hard worker, he works as hard on and off the ice as anybody in our organization. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to leave before his senior year. We talked to him and we talked to his agent and they came to the agreement that it was probably the best thing for him to do. We’re looking forward to having a real character local guy in the fold here.”

Check out this video profile of Borowiecki and you’ll see his hard nosed style and physical play.

As was pointed out by Peter Raaymakers from Silversevensens,

"Given the massive depth the Senators have on defence, it will be tough for Borowiecki to crack the Binghamton Senators lineup, let alone the Ottawa squad: Ahead of him on the depth chart are Sergei Gonchar, Filip Kuba, Chris Phillips, Erik Karlsson, Matt Carkner, Brian Lee, David Rundblad, Jared Cowen, Patrick Wiercioch, Eric Gryba, and Craig Schira. And that list (11 in all) doesn’t include pending RFAs Derek Smith and Geoff Kinrade or pending UFAs David Hale and Andre Benoit. Suffice to say, he’s got some ground to make up."

With the other two prospect signings this week of Wacey Hamilton and Derek Grant, they were done to address the lack of forward talent within the system. Borowiecki said he and his agent saw an opportunity next year and that is why he left college early. We’ll see if his gamble pays off.

On a side note, Borowiecki is the fifth draft pick from the 2008 entry draft to be signed to a pro contract. With the 2008 draft known as GM Byran Murray’s first real draft as GM of the Sens with his scouting staff in place, we are starting to see the fruits of his labour. With Erik Karlsson, Zach Smith, Patrick Wiercioch and Derek Grant  already signed, Borowiecki makes five out of the seven draft picks signed. The remaining draft picks are two Swedes, Andre Petersson who will likely be signed this summer or the next and Emil Sandin who is a project and is a few years away.

Borowiecki will head to Bingo to help the B-Sens in their playoff hunt. Good Luck kid!!!

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