Making The Grade – Jared Cowen

 JARED COWEN

Season Review – Well, Jared Cowen‘s season wasn’t supposed to happen, so the fact that he got into any games at all is a minor miracle.  He suffered a hip injury during the lockout that required surgery that was supposed to keep him out of action until at least training camp next season.  Through hard work and dedication, he made it back for the final 7 games of the season, scoring one goal but adding to the depth of the Senators blue line.

May 24, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen (2) looks to clear the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 6-2 to close out the series. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Playoffs – Cowen had an up and down playoff experience.  Obviously not playing at full strength, Cowen chipped in 3 assists but was a -6 after playing in all 10 Senators playoff games.

Contract Status – Cowen has 1 year left on his entry level contract, with a base salary of $810,000 and potential performance bonuses that make his cap hit $1.265M

Importance To Franchise – Cowen will be a cornerstone building block of the Senators blue line, with a great combination of size, skill and mean streak that will carry him forward as a member of the Ottawa top 4 for years to come.

Needs to Improve – As with most young defensemen, he is still learning the tricks of the trade in his own end.  As he improves and gains confidence in that area, he can pay a little more attention to the offensive end, where he has potential to be a producer.

Grade – INCOMPLETE – There isn’t much of a sample size for Cowen’s season.  Even when he got back, he wasn’t at 100% so it would be unfair to give him a grade at this point.