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Mikkel Boedker Signs In NLA

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Though the Ottawa Senators technically haven’t been eliminated from play in 2019-20 yet, Mikkel Boedker has already planned the next step of his hockey career. The veteran forward has signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano in the Swiss NLA that will begin whenever the Senators season is officially over.

Boedker, 30, is in the last season of a four-year, $16MM deal signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2016. The speedy winger was originally selected eighth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2008, and though he does have some success at the NHL level he never became that dominant offensive presence that many believed he could be.

Through 709 NHL contests, Boedker scored 118 goals and 327 points, only making the playoffs on a handful of occasions. Senators fans will likely only remember him as part of a frustrating sequence of trades that ended up with Mike Hoffman heading to a division rival, given he played just 91 games for the team over the last two seasons.

A two-year deal at this point may mean Boedker’s NHL journey is over, but it certainly doesn’t mean he will disappear from the hockey consciousness. One of the best players in the world from Denmark, he has competed at six World Championships, Olympic qualifiers, and a World Cup for his country.

Groulx: Anders Nilsson Could Play A Few Games If Play Resumes

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  • Senators goaltender Anders Nilsson should be able to return if regular season play resumes, goalie coach Pierre Groulx told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. He was sidelined by a concussion back in December and only passed his baseline testing last month.  However, with Ottawa well out of contention and a likely desire to give Marcus Hogberg as much playing time to evaluate him for a full-time spot for 2020-21, they will likely limit Nilsson’s action to only a handful of games at most.

Ottawa Senators Sign Artem Zub

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May 1: The Senators have officially announced a one-year contract for Zub, now that his KHL deal has expired. Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion released a statement:

We’re pleased that Artem has elected to pursue an NHL career here in Ottawa. Artem is a smart defensive defenceman who moves the puck well and who utilizes his strength and mobility to make plays. His extensive international resume will help him transition to a North American style of play but his key attribute is his sound ability to defend.

March 27: The Senators have long been the front-runners to sign Russian defenseman Artem Zub and it appears that they will indeed be getting him.  After a report earlier in the week had Ottawa on Zub’s shortlist, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Sens are expected to sign him to an entry-level contract.  His KHL contract runs through the end of April so an official announcement won’t come until May at the earliest.

The 24-year-old has been on the NHL radar for the last couple of years after a strong showing at the 2018 Olympics.  While he hasn’t been a big point producer with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL (though he managed 22 points this year), he has been a reliable defender in his own end and logged more than 19 minutes a night this season.  Zub also had a +35 rating in 57 games; while plus/minus isn’t as important as it once was among stats; it’s worth noting that the next best defender in that stat on his team was only +12.

Ottawa’s back end is certainly in need of some improvements with several spots up for grabs for next season.  Thomas Chabot, Nikita Zaitsev, and Mike Reilly are the only established blueliners under contract for 2020-21 so Zub could certainly step into an important role right away and give them a quality upgrade as they look to start progressing towards battling for a playoff spot.

Ottawa Senators Hire Anthony LeBlanc

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The Ottawa Senators are less than two months removed from their very public divorce with former CEO Jim Little, who had only been on the job for 54 days. That dismissal came with very different explanations, including Little’s recounting of a tense phone conversation with owner Eugene Melnyk. Today, Little’s replacement may have been found as the Senators have hired Anthony LeBlanc as president of business operations.

LeBlanc, a former RIM/BlackBerry executive, has previous experience in the NHL after serving as the CEO and co-owner of the Arizona Coyotes from 2013-17. He left that position when Andrew Barroway bought out the minority shareholders and took over as sole owner of the Coyotes (he has since sold the team). Going from the Coyotes to the Senators is a homecoming for LeBlanc however, as he is an Ottawa native and used today’s announcement to profess his long-time fandom of the franchise:

I am thrilled to be appointed to the position of President of Business Operations with the Senators. Having been a diehard Senators fan since the Sens rejoined the league, this opportunity is truly an honour. I look forward to working closely with the entire staff as we prepare for an exciting chapter in the history of the Senators. I am confident that my experience in the NHL, as well as my sales and marketing background in the technology sector, will be put to good use here in the National Capital Region.

The business side of the Senators front office has been in flux for years, with many executives moving in and out quickly. Perhaps LeBlanc will be the one to find his footing and help turn the organization around financially—whenever they are allowed to return to the ice.

Shane Pinto Will Return For Sophomore Season

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Though it may come as no surprise to those who have followed him this season, Shane Pinto has officially informed the Ottawa Senators that he will be returning to the University of North Dakota for his sophomore season, according to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. Pinto, like several other high profile college players that have decided to return in recent weeks, indicated that abrupt ending to the season was “the biggest thing” affecting his decision.

The 19-year old Pinto was the 32nd overall pick in 2019 and a player that could have easily climbed into the first round. The 6’2″ center had just scored at more than a point-per-game pace in the USHL and has obvious NHL upside. He showed off that upside at the World Juniors where he recorded seven points (trailing only Trevor Zegras for the Team USA lead) and at UND where he scored 16 goals and 28 points as a freshman. He was named the NCHC Rookie of the Year for his efforts.

Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia chimed in on Twitter, indicating that the Senators had expected Pinto to return and further his development at UND. With that in mind, he’ll be a name to watch next spring when the college season is over as a potential early signing.

Prospect Notes: Tychonick, Stockton, Senators

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When Johnny Tychonick was selected 48th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2018 he was a high-flying defenseman that had just put up 47 points in 48 games for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and was ticketed for stardom at the collegiate level. Unfortunately that stardom never came in two seasons at the University of North Dakota, where Tychonick was buried on the depth chart of one of the nation’s strongest programs.

Now, Tychonick has entered the transfer portal and will take his talents to the University of Nebraska-Omaha according to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The 20-year old defenseman told Schlossman that the UND coaching staff is helping him try to be eligible to play for Omaha next season, where he would be starting his junior year. The Senators will continue to hold his exclusive draft rights while he remains in college.

  • The Stockton Heat have signed three undrafted free agents to AHL contracts, inking Greg Moro to a two-year deal, Noah King to a one-year deal and Koletrane Wilson to a one-year deal. Moro, 25, just finished his senior season at Clarkson University, recording seven points in 32 games. The 6’4″ defenseman is an Alberta native who played in the SJHL and AJHL before going the college route. King, 20, broke out this season for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL, scoring 40 points in 64 games. That total was more than double the combined amount King had registered in his other three CHL seasons. Wilson, another 20-year old defenseman, registered 33 points in 62 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, while racking up penalty minutes as a tough, physical presence. All three players will bring a healthy dose of size and strength to the Heat blueline next season.
  • The Ottawa Senators are focused on the NHL Entry Draft, whenever it happens, and the three first-round picks they own this year. GM Pierre Dorion spoke with reporters including Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet, explaining that just like fans of his team he too is using a lottery simulator daily to fantasize about where his top two selections will land. The Senators of course own San Jose’s first-round pick, which means they could potentially pick first and second overall, but Scanlan writes that the executive believes the top-20 will all be “strong NHL players.”

Ottawa Senators Sign Kevin Mandolese

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The Ottawa Senators have added another interesting goaltending prospect to the organization, signing Kevin Mandolese to a three-year entry-level contract. Senators GM Pierre Dorion gave his thoughts on the new goaltender:

Kevin worked hard this past season to become one of the top goaltenders in the QMJHL. He’s positionally sound, has good lateral mobility and has proven adept at reading the play. Since being drafted, he’s been diligent about understanding what he needs to do both on and off the ice to be ready to be a pro goaltender. He’s shown an ability to make timely saves and, with more seasoning, should have an opportunity to secure wins for this team in the future.

Mandolese, a sixth-round draft pick from 2018, could have become an unrestricted free agent this summer but instead will sign with the organization that drafted him. The 19-year old recently completed an incredible season with the Cape Breton Eagles, posting a 26-8-1 record and a .925 save percentage that led all qualified QMJHL goalies.

The huge step forward that Mandolese took this season is promising for his professional future, which will likely start next season with the Senators organization. Ottawa is creating quite the pipeline of goalie prospects, with Marcus Hogberg, Filip Gustavsson, Joey Daccord now Mandolese all having bright futures.

Jonathan Aspirot Signs With Ottawa Senators

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After an up-and-down rookie season, undrafted defenseman Jonathan Aspirot has done enough to earn an NHL contract. The Ottawa Senators have signed Aspirot to a three-year, entry-level deal, following his rookie campaign with the Belleville Senators of the AHL. Senators GM Pierre Dorion explained the signing:

Jonathan is a player, with credit to our amateur scouting staff, that we’ve kept tabs on since he was a development camp invitee in 2018. He’s long demonstrated great hockey sense and exceptional determination to the point where he became a regular among Belleville’s defence corps last season. His progression has collectively indicated to our hockey staff that he has become a legitimate NHL prospect.

The 20-year old Aspirot was never drafted out of the QMJHL after struggling to even find a consistent position at the junior level. Playing both defense and forward for the Moncton Wildcats, he has seemingly made the transition full-time to the blue line in Belleville and that’s where his potential future lies in Ottawa. That led to 16 points in 44 games for the baby-Sens, clearly enough—when paired with his defensive awareness and tenacity—to earn a contract. The second season of his two-year deal with Belleville will be voided in favor of this entry-level NHL contract.

For a rebuilding club like the Senators, lottery tickets like Aspirot are worthwhile investments as they try to find inexpensive NHL talent. While stars like the ones the team drafts this year will lead the next window of competition in Ottawa, Aspirot and others will have to fill in the depth chart.

Senators Unsure If Borowiecki And Nilsson Could Return If Play Resumes

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  • If NHL regular season action resumes, many teams will be getting key injured players back which could make for quite the compelling stretch run. However, the Senators aren’t certain if they’ll be able to have defenseman Mark Borowiecki (ankle injury) or goalie Anders Nilsson (concussion) back in the fold, notes Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.  Head coach D.J. Smith noted that while both players are doing better now, the fact that they’re unable to be put through the paces on the ice makes it tough to assess their recovery.  While Nilsson is signed and the presumptive starter for next season, Borowiecki is a pending unrestricted free agent and could benefit from getting back and showing he has fully recovered.

Jacob Bernard-Docker Returning For Junior Season

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The curtailed NCAA season seems to have had an adverse effect when it comes to NHL teams signing their top collegiate prospects. David Farrance recently announced that he would be returning to Boston University for his senior season thanks to some unfinished business, and now Jacob Bernard-Docker is making a similar decision. The Ottawa Senators draft pick has told the organization he intends on returning to the University of North Dakota for his junior season, according to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald.

Bernard-Docker told Schlossman that the “way the season ended didn’t sit well” with him and his teammates, likely a good part of the reason why other UND players like Jordan Kawaguchi have already announced they will be going back for another year.

The 19-year old Senators pick is a highly-coveted prospect and one that has only continued to improve since he was the 26th overall pick in 2018. He registered 25 points in 32 games for UND while also suiting up for Canada at the World Juniors, where he took home the gold medal. His defensive ability was polished by the end of his freshman year, but only improved even further with quicker decision making and crisper outlet passes this season.

Bernard-Docker’s not going to be the next Erik Karlsson for the Senators, but his game seems perfectly fit to be the kind of long-term partner the team desperately needs for Thomas Chabot. Erik Brannstrom, another highly-touted young defenseman in the system is much more offensive and could potentially feast on easier minutes.

For now, those roster dreams will have to wait as Bernard-Docker returns to UND for some unfinished business of his own. The Senators will have to try and convince him to sign next time around.

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