Scouting The 2014-’15 Binghamton Senators: Defense

This is the first of four installments in this week’s long series as we welcome back another season of hockey at the newly refurbished and rebranded Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Binghamton in the Scouting The 2014-’15 Binghamton Senators series by dissecting the B-Sens for the upcoming season.

First up is covering the revamped defense which takes a turn leaning towards veterans unlike last season, with a second article looking into the offense and whether they can live up to last season’s expectations, the third checking out the newly formed goaltending dual of Andrew Hammond and rookie Chris Dreidger, followed lastly by taking a peek at the coaching staff led by Ottawa native Luke Richardson in his third year at the helm.

Experience is going to be one of the key components going forward for the Senators with the recent addition of Aaron Johnson and the re-signing’s of both Alex Grant and Patrick Mullen to start.

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Adding to those three are two players entering their third season in Fredrik Claesson and Chris Wideman, along with tough guy Mike Sdao engaging in his second campaign with Troy Rutkowski serving as back up and the blue line is noticeably stronger and improved that without a doubt had Richardson’s signature on it in some way, shape or form.

Three players I have omitted though. Mark Borowiecki will most likely not return to fill his Captain role and will start in Ottawa as the organization will not risk him going through the waiver process, plus his new contract. Cody Ceci is, however, eligible to start the season in Binghamton if needed to make room for those seven one way contracts the big club has, but I have my doubts that’ll happen. Also, prospect Mikael Wikstrand will be playing in Frolunda (SEL).

– Senators’ training camp invitees but not signed: Guillaume Lepine and Daniel New.

(There are eight players selected that are ‘On the Radar‘ ready for the Ottawa Senators in any call-up situation. Future articles will provide follow-ups for the leading player in keeping pace of their progress throughout the season.)

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*Graphic Art by Matt Trayling. Cover & Insert’s Courtesy of Alicia Strauch.

#2 Troy Rutkowski

Age: 22 (Apr 29, 1992)
Birthplace: Edmonton, ALTA
Hgt/Wgt: 6’2 195 lbs  Shoots: Right
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in March of 2013.
Contract: $70,000/$655,000 – 2nd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Elmira Jackals // Binghamton Senators; 41 games 0 goals 9 assists 10 PIM -18: // 12 games 1 goal 0 assists 2 PIM -6

Notables:

• Played sparingly for the B-Sens in his rookie season while spending the majority in Elmira.

• Was an offensive D-man for the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) averaging 12.2 goals, 31 assists in 70.2 games for five seasons (2008-’13).

• Average skilled depth player capable of filling in if needed in the AHL.

• Needs work on his skating and positional play. Has good size in his favor. Needs to use his body as well, lacks physical play.

Outlook: Too early to make a sound evaluation as developing defensemen takes more time but he seems to have the tools. Needs to use his large frame more effectively in front of the net clearing traffic for the goaltender’s.

#3 Fredrik Claesson

Age: 21 ( Nov 24, 1992)
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Hgt/Wgt: 6’0 205 lbs  Shoots: Left
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 5th round draft pick in 2011 (126th Overall).
Contract: $67,500/$655,000 3rd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Binghamton; 75 games 3 goals 26 assists 39 PIM +37

Notables:

• A defensive-minded defenseman who takes care of his own end. Forces players to make quick decisions when containing the rush. Fearless shot blocker and shutdown D-man.

• Claimed the club’s Top Defenseman of the Year Award last season. Team’s best PK specialist thriving on five on three’s.

• Among top three players in the AHL for the overall plus/minus category throughout last season finishing with a +37 for third slot.

• Likes to take the body hard while clearing the lanes. Gets dirty in the corners. Positional play is spot on.

Outlook: Paired up with Grant on the second unit. A candidate for wearing the ‘C’ as he served that role in the recent rookie tournament for Ottawa. Brings solid, physical play and being only 21, has a very bright future as this season will be beneficial in his growth moving forward in the organization. Can’t say enough. On the Radar.

#4 Michael Sdao

Age: 25 (Jul 3, 1989)
Birthplace: Niwot, CO
Hgt/Wgt: 6’4 220 lbs  Shoots: Left
Acquired: Re-signed in June during the off-season.
Contract: $70,000/$632,500 – 1st yr of 2 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Binghamton; 61 games 6 goals 5 assists 171 PIM +14

Notables:

• Big, rugged defenseman accepting his role protecting the younger prospect’s.

• Creates havoc clogging the shooting lane. Paired up with Wideman on the third unit.

• Physical resemblance of Eric Gryba in stature. Likes to join the offensive rush, effectively at times.

• Needs to improve on his skating. Little rough around the edges in his own end with the puck.

Outlook: His fists led him into ten scraps throwing haymaker’s in many as a tenacious ‘heavy’, tough to play against defenseman. Should be a better player with untapped confidence brewing getting into every game this season, where last season it was sporadic at times,  in and out of the line up as a healthy scratch.

#6 Chris Wideman

Age: 24 (Jan 7, 1990)
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
Hgt/Wgt: 5’10 170 lbs  Shoots: Right
Acquired: Re-signed in June during the off-season.
Contract: $85,000/$700,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Binghamton; 73 games 9 goals 42 assists 101 PIM +5

Notables:

• An offensive-minded defenseman and power play specialist quarterbacking the top unit.

• Smooth skating, with great vision. Shows excellent puck patience and loves to create offense.

• Led team scoring amongst defensemen with 51 points and fourth best in the league in that class.

• Has a fierceness about him when pushed too far. Plays with an edge which sometimes results into some badly timed penalties.

Outlook: Reminds me of André Benoit at times filling a similar role as a crafty defenseman. Last season his offense really clicked and came together and is expected to carry over into this season. His forechecking and backchecking is spot on, makes accurate up ice passes threading the needle leading the rush out of his zone while using his stick defensively clogging the lanes. On the Radar nominee aforementioned.

#14 Patrick Mullen

Age: 28 (May 6, 1986)
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Hgt/Wgt: 5’10 184 lbs  Shoots: Right
Acquired: In a trade from Vancouver Canucks involving Jeff Costello in March of 2014, re-signed in May.
Contract: $150,000/$700,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Utica Comets//Binghamton; 46 games 7 goals 13 assists 23 PIM -2 // 20 games 1 goal 11 assists 12 PIM -2

Notables:

• Brought in as a late season trade to help stabilize the young defense that was lacking veteran leadership.

• Has played in 248 AHL games  along with 17 playoff performances spanning over five seasons.

• Found his game come playoffs as one of the better players that showed up.

• Lacks the rough stuff but quick on his feet with the puck. Undersized, but otherwise an effective blue liner.

Outlook: New guy took a while to find his comfort zone playing for a new team and environment late last season as Patrick made some mistakes trying to blend in early, but had an overall decent post season. Should see more consistent play with a possibility hooking up with AJ on the first unit.

Aaron Johnson

Age: 31 (Apr 30, 1983)
Birthplace: Port Hawkesbury, NS
Hgt/Wgt: 6’1 211 lbs  Shoots: Right
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in July of 2014.
Contract: $200,000/$800,000 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Hartford Wolfpack; 75 games 4 goals 36 assists 70 PIM -2

Notables:

• Played in 291 NHL games throughout his pro career mostly for the Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-’04, 2005-’07, 2011-’12).

• Started playing in the pros for the Syracuse Crunch (2003). Served as Captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack (2013-’14).

• Brings solid experience to the back-end as a stay at home defenseman.

• Oldest player on the club at a ripe age of 31. Also the highest paid. Brings a very polished, mature game that was otherwise severely lacking on the team.

Outlook: Should get paired up with Mullen on either the first or second unit. This deal had to be made that addresses not only filling up the veteran holes, but the leadership that he will bring to the locker room on, as well as off the ice. Leading candidate to wear the ‘C’.

– Coming up Wednesday: Scouting The 2014-’15 Binghamton Senators: Offense