What to do with Derek.
As the trade-line hovering over one has to wonder what is in Derek Grant‘s immediate future with the Ottawa Senators organization. With the youth movement now in full swing in Ottawa rotating players from the Binghamton Senators such as Shane Prince and now Matt Puempel, along with Buddy Robinson being in the forecast next, overlooked in the process is Grant. Even the injured David Dziurzynski was mentioned for a call up before his season ending shoulder surgery by Binghamton’s GM Randy Lee.
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A native out of Abbotsford, BC is in his fourth season for Binghamton and turns 25 in Apr as he’s entering his prime years and Ottawa needs to be thinking of retaining him or letting him go as his one year, two-way contract is about to expire at the end of the season.
A 4th round draft pick in 2008, 119 overall, Grant and team-mate Dziurzynski are the lone remaining fixtures with the longest tenure in Binghamton going back to the 2011 Calder Cup season. He appears to have the confidence this season in lieu of previous others as he continues to develop with a positive attitude on as well as off the ice as he portrays his love for the game.
One of the bright spots to a rather dismal Senators season is the PK dual in Grant and Robinson, (along with defenseman Fredrik Claesson), as they forecheck really hard and force turnovers resulting into many offensive opportunities by creating havoc for opposing teams on the man advantage. That is something 10th ranked Ottawa could utilize in the near future to remain in the top 10 in the NHL.
Grant was called up in early 2013 for five games and again midway through Oct the following season for
20 more contributing a pair of assists, as he’s never been known for putting up big offensive numbers with the exception to this season in scoring 17 goals and 10 assists in 52 games, heading for career highs in each category.
Has been drifting back and forth on the first line to where he’s more suited on the second line between Colin Greening (before his recent call up) and Brad Mills. Has great vision and skates well with his ability to win at the dot as Grant is a fan favorite covering the last four years here in Binghamton. A specialist on the penalty kill as he had a league high five shorthanded tallies in 2012-’13,
At this point in his career, I think he needs to move on as I believe Ottawa has ridden himself off with the current glut of centermen with David Legwand and Jean-Gabriel Pageau standing in the way. Hope I’m wrong though as he’s a valuable piece to this team.
Is Grant ready for the Show? The overall consensus for fans is yes he is, but where to place him in the line up is holding him back according to some as told by these snippet’s via twitter;
@Ski931 @SenShot_FS I feel like he could be with the right team, but the Sens org tried him twice last year without it taking. Love his PK!
— Alicia S (@AliciaS20) February 23, 2015
@Ski931 @SenShot_FS looked solid in Ottawa, w/ great possession #'s in easier minutes. didn't score much though. smart hockey IQ on PK
— 『 ary 』 (@carteciel) February 23, 2015
@Ski931 I think he's NHL ready based on his previous stint. Unfortunately he's caught behind Pageau so it probably won't be in Ottawa.
— Kevin Lee (@BringBackLee) February 24, 2015
Binghamton rookie forward Derek Grant scores the winning goal in OT as the Senators beat Manchester 4-3 to even the division semifinals at 1-1 on Apr 15, 2011 at the 36 second mark of this highlight on YouTube.
*Insert Pic Courtesy of SenShot’s Photographer Alicia Strauch
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