Making The Grade – Colin Greening

EXPECTATIONS

A solid audition at the end of the 2010-11 season (13 points in 24 games) earned the winger a new one way contract.  With a spot on the roster well within reach, the question was where he would fit in the Senators lineup.

THE HIGHS

Greening earned the plum assignment out of training camp riding shotgun on the Senators top line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.   The big winger impressed with his speed and grit and was a participant in the All Star Weekend as a member of the rookie group.

THE LOWS

As with a lot of rookies, consistency was an issue as he endured a couple of extended pointless streaks of 7 & 10 games during the season. At certain points he was taken off the top line and moved around the lineup.

THE STATS

Greening finished 7th among NHL freshmen. In scoring, with 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points.  He wasn’t afraid to shoot the puck as only Calder trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog fired more shots among first year players.

THE GRADE

Greening didn’t score at the pace he did in his previous ‘tryout’, but he wasn’t too far off.  Is he going to be a first line player on a contending team? Not likely, but he has the tools to be an excellent complementary player and my grade for Colin Greening is: