The Binghamton Senators will see the return of three key player’s this upcoming season as the Ottawa Senators have re-signed defensemen Chris Wideman and Mike Sdao, along with forward Cole Schneider as all three are back with the organization following their signings on Thursday. Schneider has signed a one year, two-way deal with Ottawa while Wideman’s and Sdao’s contracts are undisclosed but believed to be a similar ones. The trio will play an important role this upcoming season for the B-Sens as the club slowly continues to be molded during the off-season.
Wideman, a fourth round pick from the Miami University Redhawks, is returning for his third pro season in Binghamton. Short in stature, Chris rose to the occasion in his second season for the B-Sens scoring 9 goals with 42 assists in 73 games which was good for fourth spot in the league amongst defensemen, while quarterbacking the number one power play unit. Out of those 42 assists, 23 were on the power play. Chris joins recently signed Patrick Mullen as the defense continues to stay in tact with the exception of free agent Alex Grant.
Schneider, the lanky sophomore out of University of Connecticut is playing in his third pro season for Binghamton. He came into his own last season having a break out year scoring 20 goals and adding 34 assists in 69 games while often jumping around the line up filling in where needed. Cole often scores in bunches but really stepped up his play-maker attributes at times playing along the right-wing. He has an uncanny knack around the net with his quick shot that is lethal when unleashed. I am expecting a monster season out of Schneider coming up that should benefit with a few call ups when needed.
Sdao, the seventh round pick in 2009, will be entering his second full season in Binghamton after finishing his senior year in Princeton the year before. The rugged defenseman played in 61 games last season scoring 6 goals and 5 helpers while piling up 171 pim, second on the club behind Darren Kramer’s 178. Big Mike held his own with his overpowering rights in a total of 10 fights that included heavies like Zack Stortini and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. He adds that much-needed toughness on the blue line stepping in as Mark Borowiecki will be heading up to Ottawa soon.
Great that Ottawa stepped up to get these three valuable players back in the fold of the organization. That leaves a few of RFA’s still needed to be brought back but one noticeable one that will not be returning is forward Stephane Da Costa, as he has been rumored to be heading to the KHL. That is not surprising as Da Costa had nowhere to go within the organization.
Thanks all for the kind words. Happy to be a part of the @Senators organization for another year!
— Chris Wideman (@Chris_Wideman) June 26, 2014
Cover photo and insert courtesy of Alicia Strauch.