Senators Tidbits

With all the breaking news last week with extensions and firings, here’s a few Senators news that happened that didn’t get as much coverage.

Super prospect David Rundblad  continued his stellar season in the Swedish Elite League with some hardware to add to his trophy case. Being named the best defenceman in the Elite League, Rundblad was awarded the Salming Trophy  after his 50 point campaign. Being the youngest defenceman to put up 50 points, Rundbladhad 11 goals and 39 assists in 55 games and was third overall in scoring. With a good chance to man the Senators blueline next season, Rundblad is an offensive minded defenceman similar to Erik Karlsson, but with more size.  

Check out this video of Rundblad working his magic, courtesy of SensTV. 

Sens prospect and good organizational solider Cody Bass has been selected as the winner of the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as the 2010-11 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The award is presented annually to an AHL player for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations. Always involved in the local community, this season, Bass was motivated to do even more. Devastated by the death in November of Daron Richardson, the 14-year-old daughter of Ottawa Senators’ assistant coach Luke Richardson, Bass established WINGS(When I Need Guidance and Support). The foundation was created to increase awareness of teen suicide and help raise money to further programs in both Binghamton and Ottawa that work to prevent suicide in teens and young adults.   

One of the lone bright spots for Ottawa this season has been the play of centre Ryan Shannon. Setting career high in goals (11), assists (16) and points (27), Shannon has proven himself as a capable top six forward and hopes to be rewarded with a new contract for next season. While waiting on a new contract, Shannon has been chosen by local members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association as the Senators’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This award is presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Its been a long road for Shannon to become a full time NHLer and he has stuck with it and is an example of hard work paying off. Check out this video of Shannon speaking about his nomination. 

Ottawa has continued with their rebuild and have signed another prospect. Signing a three year entry level contract, 20 year old Andre Peterssonwill look to earn a roster spot in Ottawa next season. Petersson was the Senators  fourth-round pick (109th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Olofstrom, Sweden, Petersson appeared in 31 games with HV71 Jonkoping of the Swedish Elite League (SEL) in 2010-11 before sustaining an injury in mid-January, which prevented him from playing for the remainder of the schedule. He recorded 12 points (eight goals, four assists) and 18 penalty minutes with HV71 this season.

After appearing in 10 games with HV71 in 2008-09, Petersson led team rookies with 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in 37 games during his first full season in the SEL in 2009-10. In addition to helping HV71 to regular-season and SEL league titles last year, Petersson earned a bronze medal with Team Sweden at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatchewan, where he led Sweden with eight goals and 11 points. Petersson helped Sweden to a silver medal at the 2009 world juniors in Ottawa, where he finished the tournament ranked second on his team in goals (three) and in a tie for fourth in points (six). Petersson will probably play next year in Bingo with the B-Sens as he needs to add strength to his frame and get used to the smaller ice. Petersson is Ottawa’s most offensive prospect with the highest ceiling, but he needs to work on his two way game before he makes it to the NHL.

And lastly, center Corey Lockeof the Binghamton Senators has been named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s most valuable player for the 2010-11 season, as voted by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

Locke leads the American Hockey League with65 assists and 86 points this season, establishing career highs in assists, points and plus/minus (plus-13) while helping the Senators to their first Calder Cup Playoff berth in six years. Locke, who has recorded a point in 54 of his 69 games played for Binghamton, will finish as his team’s scoring leader for the fourth consecutive season and is poised to claim his first AHL scoring title. Locke has put together seven different scoring streaks of at least five games apiece, including a 12-game run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 20. Named to the First Team AHL All-Star, Locke represented Binghamtonat the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic – his fifth career appearance – and extended his own league record with his 10th and 11th career All-Star Game points.
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