Binghamton Senators Sign Veteran Peter Mannino, Questions Remain
By Jeff Ulmer
In a rather bizarre move, the Binghamton Senators have signed veteran goaltender Peter Mannino to an AHL contract earlier on Saturday that begs the question of what’s going on? Not a PTO mind you, but a season long contract. There has been speculation that Andrew Hammond has been nursing an injury that is effecting his game, so he’s been brought in as an insurance option.
Ok, so why is Hammond still backing up Scott Greenham in back to back contests this weekend if it’s so bad an injury that it requires an additional signing? Has the 26 year old lack of performance been enough to sway Ottawa to make the move as a result of his recent giving up three goals in a span of 21 seconds down in Lehigh Valley two weeks ago?
Let’s remain calm and go over the situation concerning Mannino. The 30-year-old native from Farmington Hills, MI has been blocking shots spanning five different teams over the last two seasons:
Decent numbers. I especially remember him starting for the Pens in two games late last season as Binghamton won 2-1 in Pens territory and then losing at home 5-4 a week later.
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Meanwhile, Ottawa goalie prospect Chris Driedger remains in Evansville to further cloud the situation. Why hasn’t he been brought up to Binghamton? And on top of that, Senators goaltender Robin Lehner was absent from the team bench in serving as the back-up role to Craig Anderson in Saturday’s 3-2 loss in OT to the Detroit Red Wings. The reason labeled as he was sick.
Something’s brewing, and I’m not sure where my head is at. Too many occurrences happening at once for the men between the pipes in the organization that either smells an eminent trade coming up involving a goaltender, or perhaps the signing of Mannino is just that, an insurance clause.
However, I applaud the move as there is nothing more satisfying than to have a veteran goaltender. His leadership takes center stage whenever he steps on the ice, as this creates an entire whole new scenario in moving forward for the Senators.
In the end, I’m just as confused as you are.
*Cover Pic Courtesy of Jeff Ulmer