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SenShot Presents: Ottawa Senators Top 40 Prospects (9 to 12)

By Editorial Staff

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After a bit of a hiatus, SenShot continues to release our Top 40 Ottawa Senators Prospects.

Today, we continue to look at the Top 20 Prospects and bring to you another four of Ottawa’s prospects in their system. In our Top 40 Prospects ranking, these four prospects are ranked 9th to 12th.

9.   Eric Gryba

Position: Defenceman

Shoots: Right

Ht: 6’3″  Wt: 214 lbs

Date of Birth: April 14, 1988 (Age 23)

Birthplace: Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

Contract: $622,500 (RFA in 2012-2013)

Drafted: 2006 (3/68) by OTT

Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 66  Goals ~ 3  Assists ~ 4  Total Points ~ 7

Potential: Punishing top six shutdown defenceman with a mean streak

2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)

How Far Away From The NHL: 1 – 3 yrs

  • With a huge frame, Gryba is a tough, rugged defensive defenseman that is a rock in his end. Keeping players honest, Gryba will make his career by blocking shots, throwing huge body checks and being solid on the penalty kill. With limited offensive abilities, Gryba will be looked upon to be a shutdown defenseman or the defensive conscience on a D pairing.
  • Highly competitive, Gryba never backs from a challenge and is not afraid to drop the gloves. With 13 fights in the AHL last season, Gryba is quickly defining himself as a punishing defenseman. Gryba also has the ability to throw huge, open ice hits.
  • Gryba needs to work on his foot speed so that he can handle the pace of the NHL. If he can improve his skating and not get beat wide, Gryba could develop into a rugged shutdown defenseman in the NHL. He also has to make sure he picks the right moment to go for the huge open ice hit and not put his team in a vulnerable position.
  • Expected to play in Binghamton this season, look for Gryba to be given more responsibility and be counted on to shutdown opponents best lines. If he can continue to develop and work on his skating, Gryba could soon be patrolling the blue line in Ottawa (possibly next season) and filling the role of enforcer/shutdown defenseman.
  • Check out Gryba’s fight page to see him in action.

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10. Andre Petersson

Position: Winger (RW/LW)

Shoots: Right

Ht: 5’9″  Wt: 179 lbs

Date of Birth: September 11, 1990 (Age 20)

Birthplace: Olofstrom, Sweden

Contract: $730,000 (RFA in 2014-2015)

Drafted: 2008 (4/109) by OTT

Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 31  Goals ~ 8  Assists ~ 4  Total Points ~ 12

Potential: Highly skilled top nine forward with an offensive upside

2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)

How Far Away From The NHL: 1 – 3 yrs

  • Petersson’s game is based solely on offense. Probably the most skilled forward in Ottawa’s system, Petersson is a flashy winger with tons of speed and the moves to make anybody look foolish on the ice. Developing his two-way game, he is still a work in progress but he is learning to play on both sides of the puck. He is also an underrated passer as he is able to garner a lot of attention from opponents and free up space for teammates who he can find with great passes. With the ability to find himself in scoring positions, Ottawa hopes that Petersson can develop into a impact scorer in the NHL.
  • Size will always be a issue for Petersson and the style of game he plays, he needs to get stronger to ensure he can handle the physicality of the pro game. He will also need to work on his defensive skills so that he can be trusted fully by the coaching staff.
  • Petersson will play this year in the AHL and be looked upon as a scoring threat on one of the top two scoring lines. With his raw talent, he should be able to do some damage with the B-Sens. If he can develop his two-way game and continue to hone his offensive skills, Petersson could be a player that Ottawa will consider for a spot on the top two lines sooner rather then later.
  • Check out this video of Petersson working his magic.

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11.  Mike Hoffman

Position: Center/Left Winger

Shoots: Left

Ht: 6’1″  Wt: 172 lbs

Date of Birth: November 24, 1989 (Age 21)

Birthplace: Kitchener, Ont, Canada

Contract: $676,666 (RFA in 2013-2014)

Drafted: 2009 (5/130) by OTT

Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 74  Goals ~ 7  Assists ~ 18  Total Points ~ 25

Potential: Top nine forward with a top six shot

2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)

How Far Away From The NHL: 2 – 3 yrs

  • Hoffman is a high scoring center with a tremendous shot. With the ability to make the NHL based on his shot alone, Hoffman needs to fill out his frame to ensure he can handle the physicality of the NHL/pro game. With good speed, Hoffman can not only score goals, but set them up too.
  • After playing out his last year of junior where he he won the MVP of the QMJHL, Hoffman had a rough start to his pro career last year. With a shaky start in the AHL, he was sent down to the ECHL for a few games just so he could get used to the pro game and get some minutes. After returning to the AHL, Hoffman ended the year with seven goals and 25 points in 74 games. But all was not lost as he played a role in the B-Sens playoff run to the Calder Cup.
  • With Ottawa lacking impact scorers in their system, the organization hopes Hoffman’s first season in the AHL was the growing pains of player development. With his shot compared to some of the greats in the NHL, this season it’s expected Hoffman will play a prominent role on the top two forward lines for the B-Sens.
  • Lacking the size to be a center in the NHL, the organization may switch Hoffman to the wing permanently as his skills fit that of an elite scoring winger. Depending on his play, Hoffman may see some time in the NHL this season, but expect for him to play the next two seasons in the AHL as he rounds out his game and fully adjusts to the pro game.
  • Check out this video of Hoffman speaking about his first year as a pro.

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12. Jim O’Brien

Position: Center / Right Wing

Shoots: Right

Ht: 6’3″  Wt: 204 lbs

Date of Birth: January 29, 1989 (Age 22)

Birthplace: Maplewood, MN, USA

Contract: $816,666 (RFA in 2012-2013)

Drafted: 2007 (1/29) by OTT

Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 74  Goals ~ 24  Assists ~ 32  Total Points ~ 56

Potential: Third line center with a strong two-way game

2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)

How Far Away From The NHL: 1 – 2 yrs

  • Drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, O’Brien was the first draft pick of the Murray management. Considered a bust after being drafted as he failed to live up to the billing of a first round draft pick, O’Brien has adapted his game and now is turning into a late bloomer. A strong two-way center, O’Brien has a good offensive game to add to his solid defensive play. With a great frame for the center position, O’Brien has also added some grit to his game that makes him strong on the puck. He can also play the wing and has tremendous speed that can separate him from opponents. O’Brien also started playing hockey as a defenseman so he brings a ton of versatility to a roster.
  • After his disappointing first year as a pro in the AHL where he only notched eight goals and 17 points, O’Brien dedicated himself to off-season training and had a breakout campaign last season. Playing in 74 games for the Binghamton Senators, O’Brien netted 24 goals and 56 points and also got to suit up for six games in the NHL. This season, O’Brien will be part of the leadership core for the B-Sens as he will be looked upon to help lead by example for the very young squad.
  • In the last year of his entry level contract, this season will determine if he is ready to take the next and earn a one-way deal. With the amount of depth the organization now has, O’Brien will need to have a spectacular year this season if he hopes to be penciled in for the Ottawa line-up in the 2012-2013 season.
  • With the tools to be a strong two-way, third line center or winger, if he can develop his offensive game more this year in the AHL, he potential could see top six minutes in the NHL. He has the speed and the frame to be a power forward in the league, but he will need to produce consistently to be given that chance.
  • Check out this video of O’Brien’s growth as a player.

Entering the top twelve prospects in Ottawa’s system, we have a number of prospects that are expected to make an impact in the organization in the near future. In all four of these prospects, they all need time to fully develop their game in the minors and this year will be a big year for all four of these prospects. With them all playing for the B-Sens this season, Ottawa will be watching them closely. With O’Brien and Gryba needing new contracts after this season, it’ll be interesting to see how they are resigned.

**Don’t forget to buy your Tickets for SenShot’s Alfie Night in Ottawa on November 11th, 2011. Click here for more details**

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