Scouting The 2014-’15 Binghamton Senators: Offense

#9 Matt Puempel

Age: 21 (Jan 24, 1993)
Birthplace: Windsor, ONT
Hgt/Wgt: 6’0 196 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 1st round draft pick in 2011 (24th Overall).
Contract: $70,000/$832,500 2nd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Binghamton Senators; 74 games 30 goals 18 assists 94 PIM -11

Notables:

• Rookie sniper went from seven goals by mid-season to a career high 30 tying him with Hoffman for the club lead. High-end talent who’s dangerous around the cage.
  

• Claimed the club’s Rookie of the Year Award last season.

• Led the club with 15 PPG’s and finished ninth in rookie scoring in the AHL.

• Started out on the checking line while learning defense early on. Is a gamer every time he hits the ice. Got into seven scraps as he can handle the rough stuff despite his size.

Outlook: Highly energized player with great offensive instincts and a pure goal scorer with a quick release that’s off the charts. Raised the bar for top prospect ranks in surpassing others on the team. Potential bottom six for the NHL is not out of reach for this talented forward as he sits high in the prospect pool. On the Radar.

#10 Buddy Robinson

Age: 22 (Sep 30, 1991)
Birthplace: Bellmawr, NJ
Hgt/Wgt: 6’5 236 lbs Pst: Right Wing
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in March of 2013.
Contract: $70,000/$925,000 – 2nd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Elmira Jackals//Binghamton; 1 game 0 goals 0 assists 0 PIM -1 // 69 games 15 goals 16 assists 49 PIM +23

Notables:

• Officially named Charles Robinson III, or as he is affectionately known as ‘Buddy’.

• Big man on the ice is also surprising agile. Deceptively quick hands creating a lot of offensive action.

• Tied with Prince +23 for second spot behind Claesson’s +37 last season.

• Has dropped the gloves three times much to everyone’s surprise considering his lack of experience.

Outlook: Pleasantly surprised in his point production for the rookie. Hopefully he stays dialed in and continues with his hard work entering his second season. Should be in the top six bringing with him his big body crashing the lanes. Looked impressive in the recent rookie tournament for Ottawa.

#15 Cole Schneider

Age: 24 (Aug 26, 1990)
Birthplace: Williamsville, NY
Hgt/Wgt: 6’1 200 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Re-signed in June during the off-season.
Contract: $80,000/$750,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Binghamton; 69 games 20 goals 34 assists 22 PIM +14

Notables:

• Flexible player that had him jumping throughout the line up last season. Just coming off his first 20 goal season as a pro.
  

• Has tremendous potential as he continues to develop. Upside on finding the net. Downside needs some work defensively.

• Good, quick hands and smooth passer. Smart with the puck with good vision.

Likes to score in pairs as one likely follows another. Possesses great offensive instinct’s with a high ceiling.

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Outlook: Should be a 30 – 35 goal scorer this season. Nice free agent pick up by the organization. Could surprise some of the fan base in how far along he’s developed. A top six forward on this team and might get a cup of coffee for the big club. On the Radar.

#17 Garrett Thompson

Age: 24 (Mar 7, 1990)
Birthplace: Traverse City, MI
Hgt/Wgt: 6’2 191 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in April of 2014.
Contract: $70,000/$925,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr entry-level

Last Season: Ferris State University//Binghamton; 43 games 16 goals 16 assists 42 PIM n/a // 7 games 1 goals 2 assists 0 PIM +1

Notables:

• Made his pro debut on Apr 4th in Rochester (Americans). Scored his first pro goal on Apr 6th against W/B-Scranton Penguins.
  

• Scored a team high 16 goals and adding 16 assists to tie for the team led with 32 points at Ferris State. Served as one of the team’s assistant captains while playing there.

• Recorded 87 points (42 goals, 45 assists) in 139 games covering a span of four years at FSU.

• Played in two playoff games in the first round for the B-Sens with no points.

Outlook: Good height as the rugged winger got an early taste of the pros late last season. Needs time to adapt but shows promise in the handful of games he’s played in so far. Ranks high with management in Ottawa.

#18 Shane Prince

Age: 21 (Nov 16, 1992)
Birthplace: Spencerport, NY
Hgt/Wgt: 5’11 190 lbs Pst: Left Wing/Center
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 2nd round draft pick in 2011 (61st Overall).
Contract: $70,000/$900,000 – 3rd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Binghamton; 69 games 21 goals 27 assists 53 PIM +23

Notables:

• Good vision, explosive skating ability with speed. Has a nose for the net. Scored a career high 21 goals last season.
  

• Led team with six first (game) goals. Scored six goals in four consecutive games.

• Tied with Robinson with +23 for second behind Claesson’s +37. Social media rumors saying he wanting out of the organization via a trade.

• Pro: Undersized talent with good work ethics. Con: Starting to drown in the prospect pool with time running thin. Had a frustrating rookie tournament for Ottawa. Starting to lack motivation?

Outlook: Make or break season for young Shane in his final year of his contract and whether he brings that consistency on the ice without being lackadaisical at times remains to be seen. Needs to stay out of the coach’s doghouse for him to have a successful campaign coming up. Regardless, On the Radar.

#21 Ryan Dzingel

Age: 22 (Mar 9, 1992)
Birthplace: Wheaton, IL
Hgt/Wgt: 6’0 187 lbs Pst: Left Wing/Center
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 7th round draft pick in 2011 (204th Overall).
Contract: $70,000/$690,000 – 1st yr of 2 yr entry-level

Last Season: Ohio State University//Binghamton; 37 games 22 goals 24 assists 34 PIM n/a // 9 games 2 goals 5 assists 9 PIM +1

Notables:

• Made his pro debut on Apr 4th in Rochester and scored his first pro goal on Apr 12th against W/B-Scranton.
  

• Leading scorer on the Buckeyes in his senior year while serving as one of the assistant captain’s.

• Participated in the Senators development camp the last three summers.

• Played in the first round opener in the playoffs and seemed to run out of steam as he sat out the rest of the series. Got into a brief scrap with Ryan Rupert in Ottawa’s rookie tournament.

Outlook: Lots of eyeballs will be on Ryan at the start of the season and how well he progresses, while he continues to adapt to the pros. Kid has raw talent, needs to bulk up some but one to watch that brings spark to the offense. Solid skater and accurate passer in the small sample size I saw with good jump.

#22 David Dziurzynski

Age: 24 (Oct 6, 1989)
Birthplace: Lloydminster, ALTA
Hgt/Wgt: 6’3 218 lbs Pst: Left Wing/Center
Acquired: Re-signed in July during the off-season.
Contract: $85,000/$750,000 – 1st yr of 2 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Binghamton; 68 games 13 goals 12 assists 91 PIM -1

Notables:

• Played his entire pro career covering four seasons for the Senators organization including 12 games up in Ottawa scoring a pair of goals in 2013.
  

• Potential Captain material. Fan favorite and likes to drop the glove’s on occasion.

• Had a pro high 13 goals last season as he potted four of them in the last seven games.

• Skates hard up and down the ice using his big body in the corners. Younger brother Darian plays for the Portland Pirates.

Outlook: Poised forward seems to be scratching the surface as he makes things happen in the corners and in front of the net. Should be a big plus in the locker room in helping out the new guys providing leadership. Knows his role as a grinder while adding an offensive upside to his game as of late. On the Radar.

#37 Darren Kramer

Age: 22 (Nov 19, 1991)
Birthplace: Peace River, ALTA
Hgt/Wgt: 6’1 201 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 6th round draft pick in 2011 (156th Overall).
Contract: $60,000/$635,000 – 3rd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Binghamton; 45 games 2 goals 2 assists 178 PIM -15

Notables:

• Club leader in penalty minutes and at the same time getting into a team high 18 fights.
  

• Hard working forward that’s well liked in the locker room. Team pest, always chirping away at his opponents.

• Has a nasty slapper that found the back of the net on occasion last season. Gives effort on the ice with limited talents.

• Plays the agitator role really well. Flourishes in getting under opponent’s skin. Scored three goals in the recent rookie tournament for Ottawa.

Outlook: Likes to drop the gloves as the team bruiser while not ranking him a heavy, but can hold his own and not afraid to take on those that are labeled heavy’s. Knows when to take his battles and not hurt the team in the process. In a game against Syracuse he took on three players at once!

#41 Jakub Culek

Age: 21 (Sep 7, 1992)
Birthplace: Plzen, Czech Rep.
Hgt/Wgt: 6’3 186 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 3rd round draft pick in 2010 (76th Overall).
Contract: $67,500/$620,000 – 3rd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Elmira//Binghamton; 49 games 8 goals 22 assists 27 PIM n/a // 7 games 0 goals 0 assists 2 PIM -4

Notables:

• Lanky forward needs to step up in his assertiveness which could be a lot to ask.
  

• Needs to continue to work hard to bring his offensive talent’s out.

• Don’t really notice him but seems good on his feet.

• Unable to adapt to the pro game on North American soil as of yet on the smaller rinks.

Outlook: Hard to rate after seeing him briefly. Still a ways away from the player he’s been in the past with offensive instincts that he once possessed. Has a lot to prove this season as the organization might just cut ties with the 21-year-old Czech via a trade. Most likely heading to the Indiana IceMen of the ECHL.

#44 Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Age: 21 (Nov 11, 1992)
Birthplace: Gatineau, QUE
Hgt/Wgt: 5’9 175 lbs Pst: Center/Right Wing
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 4th round draft pick in 2011 (96th Overall).
Contract: $65,000/$660,000 – 3rd yr of 3 yr entry-level

Last Season: Binghamton//Ottawa; 46 games 20 goals 24 assists 23 PIM +15 // 28 games 2 goals 0 assists 12 PIM -5

Notables:

• Led the club with five game winning goals. Managed a 20 goal season and nearly a point per game average.
  

• Claimed the club’s top Defensive Forward Award last season.

• Slick offensive, bull of a forward with strong defensive work. Excellent in the dot. Sound positional play and PK specialist.

• Team spark plug. Always moving, smooth and aggressive skater. Great stick handler with playmaker abilities.

Outlook: Should settle in for Ottawa at some point this season, but now it’s a number’s game with limited space and will start in Binghamton. Was the team’s MVP in 2012-’13 before getting called up and started kicking butt in Ottawa heading towards the playoffs. Needs to get his confidence back before returning to the big club. On the Radar.

#57 Derek Grant

Age: 24 (Apr 20, 1990)
Birthplace: Abbotsford, BC
Hgt/Wgt: 6’3 206 lbs Pst: Center/Left Wing
Acquired: Re-signed in July during the off-season.
Contract: $85,000/$700,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Binghamton//Ottawa; 46 games 12 goals 10 assists 30 PIM +9 // 20 games 0 goals 2 assists 4 PIM -3

Notables: 

• Big, dynamic PK specialist. Led the league in shorty’s in 2012-’13 with five.

• Settled out of his contract dispute during the off-season before going to arbitration.
  

• Wasn’t effective at times just getting by. Has the ability but doesn’t use it to his potential.

• Only other player other than Dizzy remaining from the 2011 Calder Cup Championship.

Outlook: At times Derek has shown some flashes of his talent but puts it on cruise control while seemingly waiting for another call-up and not risking an injury. Gotta change that attitude before it catches up and bites him. Not sure at this point what he’ll bring coming up but needs to have a better overall performance with some fire in his belly. On the Radar.

Carter Camper

Age: 26 (Jul 6, 1988)
Birthplace: Rocky River, OH
Hgt/Wgt: 5’9 173 lbs Pst: Center/Right Wing
Acquired: Signed as a free agent in July of 2014.
Contract: $150,000/$600,000 – 1st yr of 1 yr, 2-way

Last Season: Providence Bruins//Springfield Falcons; 41 games 8 goals 23 assists 16 PIM -2 // 19 games 4 goals 16 assists 8 PIM -2

Notables:

• Hobey Baker finalist at Miami University (Ohio).

• Has played in 206 AHL games including 17 playoff games.

• Was dealt in Feb of 2014 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Blake Parlett. Was assigned to Springfield (Falcons) where he finished the season.

• Played in 3 NHL games for Boston Bruins in Feb of 2012 and scored a goal. Brings offensive high-end skill level.

Outlook: Excited to see what Carter brings to the table as I hope he somehow gets paired up with Puempel and Pageau at some point as that would be high-end, full-out offensive threat line. Great signing bringing a proven veteran in helping out balancing the offense.

Alex Guptill

Age: 22 (Mar 5, 1992)
Birthplace: Newmarket, ONT
Hgt/Wgt: 6’3 183 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: In a trade from Dallas Stars involving Jason Spezza in July of 2014.
Contract: $67,500/$790,000 – 1st yr of 2 yr entry-level

Last Season: University of Michigan//Texas Stars; 31 games 12 goals 13 assists 20 PIM n/a // 5 games 0 goals 2 assists 6 PIM n/a

Notables:

• Scored 44 goals, 50 assists in 110 games for Michigan (2011-’14).
  

• Big body with offensive ability. Got a nose for the net scoring big goals for Michigan.

• Had a couple of off ice issues while at the University resulting in an on ice suspension.

• Still learning the game and his defensive responsibilities. Looked impressive in the recent rookie tournament for Ottawa.

Outlook: First full season in the pros could be the right fit along side Dziurzynski on the wing with Grant centering on the third line that could prove to be an effective trio, while serving at the same time in aiding Derek’s overall game. If there is discipline issues Richardson will set the message right from the get go.

Max McCormick

Age: 22 (May 1, 1992)
Birthplace: De Pere, WI
Hgt/Wgt: 5’11 183 lbs Pst: Left Wing
Acquired: Ottawa Senators – 6th round draft pick in 2011 (171st Overall).
Contract: $70,000/$630,000 – 1st yr of 2 yr entry-level

Last Season: Ohio State University; 37 games 11 goals 24 assists 40 PIM n/a

Notables:

• Had a bright career for Ohio: Team’s Rookie of the Year, two-time CCHA Rookie of the Week, CCHA All-Rookie Team choice in 2011-’12.

• CCHA Scholar-Athlete in 2012-13, two-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten choice.
  

• Participated in the Senators development camp the last three summers.

• Teammate with Dzingel at Ohio State. Second leading scorer behind Ryan. Looked impressive in the recent rookie tournament scoring two goals for Ottawa and getting into a brief scrap vs Toronto’s Matt Rupert.
  

Outlook: McCormick and Dzingel offer a one-two punch (pun intended after recent fisticuffs) injecting potentially some high energy offense to the line-up. Could be a valuable asset, along with his buddy from OSU, that will now spill over to the professional level. My Dark Horse pick for the club coming up after an impressive collegiate career.

– Coming up Friday: Scouting The 2014-’15 Binghamton Senators: Goaltending