Ottawa Senators Have a Physical RW Waiting For a Chance
The Ottawa Senators have numerous intriguing young players waiting in the wings for a chance to make an impact at the NHL level. One of those guys is Buddy Robinson.
In June, the Senators re-signed him to a two-way deal for 1 season, and he’ll provide depth at right wing.
How he progresses next season will play a huge role in whether the Senators view him as a future piece of a winning hockey team.
He was never drafted, but now appears on the verge of getting an extended role on the Senators for next season.
He played 3 games for the Senators last season, and put up impressive numbers in that extremely small sample size. He tallied 2 points and 4 penalty minutes.
The 3 games he made appearances in were the last 3 games of the season, and if he does end up making the roster at the beginning of this next regular season, that success can hopefully be a confidence booster for him.
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He projects as a physical power forward with limited offensive ability at the next level. At 6’6’’ and 235 LBS, he’s a gigantic force to be reckoned with out on the ice.
Teams need grittiness that guys like Robinson can provide, and even if his scoring aptitude never fully develops, his niche can be as a big hitter and physical presence out on the rink.
Maybe Ottawa views him as a potential replacement for Chris Neil. This next season is going to be Neil’s 15th season in the NHL, and he’ll turn 38 next June.
2016-2017 is also the last season that Neil is under contract, so it’s a big possibility that this upcoming NHL season is going to be Neil’s final year with the Senators.
If Robinson has a good season next year, the team will feel comfortable with replacing a physical right winger with a younger and bigger (but still bruising) right winger.
Robinson will be a restricted free agent next offseason, while Neil will be an unrestricted free agent.
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Robinson is going to be essentially playing for a future with the team going forward, and any player that size will be given every opportunity to succeed.